Tributes to Patrick Nicholls, retired senior partner at Diss based TW Gaze, who has died, aged 81

Tributes have been paid to one of the driving forces behind one of the region’s most successful estate agencies and auction houses.

Patrick Nicholls, retired senior partner of Diss based TW Gaze, died unexpectedly, aged 81, earlier this month.

He worked at TW Gaze for 36 years.

Patrick was known for being a huge part of each community he lived in, for being hard working, approachable, and someone who he listened to people’s concerns before helping them to overcome them.

He also prioritised good manners and integrity ahead of anything else.

Patrick was born in Worcestershire in 1942. His father also worked as an auctioneer and estate agent, running an agency in Hereford specialising in the sale and valuation of licensed property, pubs and hotels.

Patrick joined the agency as a trainee aged 20. He enjoyed the work and studied by a correspondence course at The College of Estate Management to become a chartered surveyor.

He was offered a job by Thos. Wm. Gaze & Son and moved to Diss in 1966 He married wife, Liz, a year later and had two children, Ben and Sarah.

In the early years of married life Patrick set about restoring a derelict Elizabethan farmhouse in Bressingham.

Meanwhile, TW Gaze prospered and Patrick became one of six partners.

Director Edward Baskerville, said: “He particularly enjoyed the quick business and a degree of fun and ‘theatre’ in auctioneering.

“He had a hard work ethic and developed a strong reputation for integrity and reliability, which served him well in the housing estate agency sector of South Norfolk and North Suffolk.”

Patrick was tasked with developing the estate agency practice for TWGaze. He turned the fledgling department into one of the three cornerstones of the firm in the 1980’s and 1990’s and a stand-out department.

Not content with just turning his hand to the selling of houses and chattels he also led the commercial side of the business possibly a throwback to his father’s practice in Herefordshire.

Mr Baskerville added: “Life and work in Norfolk was happy and the firm was prospering. He always said that he didn’t recall a day when he felt other than happy to be going to work.”

After 20 years living in the old farmhouse, the Nicholls family moved to a Georgian townhouse only 50 yards from the office, near the auction salerooms.

Patrick threw himself into activity in the Diss community, he was an active rugby player and later vice president with Diss Rugby Club, he was a regular on the squash courts and was often engaged in raising money for charities.

When the children were young, the family discovered sailing at Aldeburgh. Patrick was a keen dinghy racer and was Class Captain of the Wayfarer fleet, before moving into a Flying 15.

TW Gaze auctions continued to grow after a period of recovery from the fall-away of the liv markets of old.

Patrick became the senior partner until he retired from the firm in 2002, aged 60.

He moved to Aldeburgh, enjoyed time with his family and teaching his grandchildren to sail.

Unfortunately, Liz’s health deteriorated and she died, aged 70.

Patrick oversaw the building of a new house in Aldeburgh, to a specification embracing maximum thermal efficiency.

He led a full and active life in retirement; was a Flag Officer at the Yacht Club, an avid sailor and navigator of the high seas.

Patrick was a keen golfer and Bridge player.

While chairman of the Aldeburgh RNLI Guild, he was awarded the Silver Medal by the RNLI for raising significant funds over a 50 year period in both Diss and Aldeburgh.

He loved socialising and helping in the community. He was also known for his enthusiasm for good health and fitness.

Family members say his ‘sudden and unexpected passing’ has come as a ‘shock and surprise’ to many.

There will be a private cremation this week.

The family will be having a Service of Thanksgiving on Friday, March 15 at 2:30pm at St. Peter & St. Paul’s Church, Aldeburgh.

Donations in memory can be made to The Aldeburgh Lifeboat Guild c/o Tony Brown Funeral Services, The Funeral Parlour, New Cut, Saxmundham Suffolk IP17 1EH.

The Aldeburgh Lifeboat Guild is part of the RNLI, but funds are specifically for the Aldeburgh crew.