MY FRIEND NICK

I received some sad news yesterday, one of my school friends Nick Flaherty died in a motorbike accident in Scotland. He was the tallest guy in the year, which was great because we played rugby together for many years and he was the guy you wanted on your team. He played second row and I played number 8, so if you know your rugby you know how close we had to be! He was always full of life and desperate to fly planes, but was unable to because of eyesight requirements, but bizarrely was allowed to fly helicopters - so he did! His parents Roger and Peggy-Anne were like second parents to me in my late teens and early adulthood. I was always round their house chatting about life's challenges. Nick was never a heart on your sleeve evangelist, but he had a faith that was as solid as he was, you know like a brick out-house kind of thing. I hadn't seen Nick for a few years but his untimely death, brings home the fragility of life and how important it is to live it to the full while you can. I'm gutted for the loss of an amazing guy, for those left behind: his wife Katie and their 2 small boys - but I am glad he lived his life to full, followed his dream and got to fly!

Below is the full BBC press release:

Family says crash biker a 'hero'
A motorcyclist killed in an Aberdeenshire crash was a former search and rescue helicopter pilot whose family described him as a "hero".

Married father-of-two Nick Flaherty, 33, died after colliding with parked vehicles at Whitecairns, near his home, on Saturday.

He had been heading to his work at Bond Offshore when the accident happened.
Relatives said in a statement: "Nick was a larger than life character who lived his life to the full."
Mr Flaherty was married to Katie and they had two young sons, Harry, six, and four-year-old Finn.
He had risen up the ranks at Bond to become chief pilot last year, and had also been involved in several search and rescue missions.

'Greatest love' The family statement said: "Nick set off for work on his motor bike on Saturday morning and was tragically involved in a fatal accident not far from his home.
"Katie, the boys and Nick's mum and dad would like to thank family, friends, colleagues and strangers for the love and support that they have given at this sad time.
"They would particularly like to thank the emergency services and those at the scene of the accident, for caring for Nick."
They added: "Nick and his family have been attending Balmedie Church and Nick had a simple faith in Jesus and the family take great comfort in the assurance that he is safe in heaven.
"His greatest love was Katie and his boys. He will always be loved and remembered by those who knew him. "