April 2026
Michael Nidd was a larger than life character in all respects and it is with great sadness we report his passing at the age of 81. Michael, who lived with his wife Pat at the Old Bakery, dedicated himself to village causes from the moment he and Pat moved to Piccotts End in 1976. As one of its longest standing residents, Michael saw it all: From the days when the village had a petrol station and a pub called The Boar’s Head, an infamous kidnapping perpetrated by a village resident, right up to the twin threats of large-scale development on both sides of the village.
Nicknamed Mr Grumpy by his family on account of his regular spats with authority, Michael was by day a telecoms consultant, working across Europe and Africa, where, his sister Helen said in a moving tribute, ‘he learned to swear in Swahili’! By night, Michael took up the cudgels on behalf of the village against all the scourges of everyday life. These included potholes, flooding, light pollution and the noisy intrusion overhead of easyJet flights from Luton Airport. Most of all he was a vigorous standard bearer for the CPRE (the Campaign to Protect Rural England). Firing off regular letters to the Daily Telegraph and the local press, Michael fought relentlessly on both its behalf and our behalf. As PERA secretary he was second to none in his attention to detail and almost unrivalled knowledge of town planning. Many in the village will also remember him for his legendary pulled pork rolls at the annual fireworks display, where he is pictured here in a rare moment joy.
Helen said of him: ‘He was one of the funniest people I know, an incredible memory for facts and figures, a great story teller, a complex, generous, larger than life (literally) brother.’
Paul Borg, a close neighbour, added: ‘Michael was a big presence in the village, a much valued friend and companion. He will be sadly missed.’
Jane McClelland, another neighbour, said: ‘Really sad news. Michael contributed so much to Piccotts End, a great campaigner on local environmental issues. We will all miss him.’
The last words come from Helen: ‘Michael, or Ned as we used to call him as he reminded us of Neddy Seagoon from The Goon Show, had many colourful (and often unrepeatable) expressions. But the one I liked most was ‘How lovely to do nothing, and afterwards to rest.’ Rest, in peace Ned.’
