JOHN'S FAMILY HISTORY

Norman Nicoll Ancestry Profile
Figure 1: Courtesy of Ancestry.com

Today is the 4th of June 2023, the 48th year anniversary of my Pop’s death.

I can vividly remember how much I loved him as a child. I was 6 years old when he left us, and some of my earliest memories are of the time I spent with him.

Unfortunately, there is no photo of us together, which is baffling, considering I was the first grandchild to be born. I do however have this wonderful photo of my Pop and my brother Graham together.

Norman Nicoll and grandson Graham Macvean
Figure 2: Courtesy of The Macvean Family Archives

It was taken at the domestic terminal of Kingsford Smith Airport in Sydney. It was April 1975 just two months before he passed.

This was the day we left to move to Western Australia. Pop was giving Graham a sip of his beer. It was the 70s, that’s what happened back then.

Kathleen Nicoll and grandsons Graham & John Macvean
Figure 2a: Courtesy of The Macvean Family Archives

I threw this one in with my Nan to show that I was actually there at the airport at the same time as my Pop.

What also happened in the 1970s was driving with your grandson riding on your knee and helping him to steer the car. Which is another of my treasured memories of my Pop. Oh my god, this was so exciting to me at the time, and I can still remember how much I loved going driving with him. There is no photo again, unfortunately.

Here is a photo of Pop in uniform in the early 1940s.

Norman Henry Nicoll
Figure 3: Courtesy of The Nicoll Family Archives

Here he is outside Saint Michael’s Church Stanmore on the morning of his wedding to my Grandmother, Kathleen Ashton Raymond. He is pictured with his brothers, Kenneth Nicoll on the left of the photo and Douglas Nicoll on the right.

*Kenneth, Norman and Douglas Nicoll, 3rd July 1943*
*Figure 4: Courtesy of The Nicoll Family Archives*

The photo below is my favourite of Nan and Pop.

*Kathleen Ashton Nicoll nee Raymond and Norman Henry Nicoll, just married*
*Figure 5: Courtesy of the Nicoll Family Archives*

At the time of his wedding, Pop was an Armourer in the 104th Anti-Tank Regiment.

*Sergeant Norman Nicoll, (centre)*
*Figure 6: Courtesy of the Nicoll Family Archives*

*Sergeant Norman Nicoll, (centre)*
*Figure 6a: Courtesy of the Nicoll Family Archives*

Here is one of those street photographer photos of Pop, leaving Central Station in Sydney via the Eddy Avenue exit.

*Sergeant Norman Nicoll*
*Figure 7: Courtesy of the Nicoll Family Archives*

Pop enlisted for full-time war duty on the 5th of June 1941 but I’m fairly sure he was already in the Citizens Military Force before this. Just four months later in October 1941, he was promoted to Sergeant, the rank he is wearing in the photo above.

*Norman Henry Nicoll*
*Figure 8: Courtesy of the Nicoll Family Archives*

I just had the most amazing luck while searching through the family photo archives, I found two photos of us together.

The first is from one of my earliest memories of a trip to Lake Eucumbene, in New South Wales, maybe in 1972 or 1973. I remember this picnic so clearly, helping Nan and Pop brew the tea.

*John, Kath, Norm (Grandparents) and Gary (Dad) 1972/73*
*Figure 9: Courtesy of the Macvean Family Archives*

*John and Grandfather, Norman Nicoll, 1972/73*
*Figure 10: Courtesy of the Macvean Family Archives*

They are the most rubbish photos I know. The first is so out of focus and the second, there is absolutely nothing linking the two of us together but they make my heart swell and the eyes sting a little.

*Norman & Kathleen Nicoll 1972/73*
*Figure 11: Courtesy of the Macvean Family Archives*

Unfortunately, my Mum the photographer, wasn’t the best at getting the focus on the photos she took. At least they are better than nothing so I’m very grateful for her efforts.

There is so much I want to share about my Pop but I will keep this post to just a quick glimpse and write about him further in the future. Here are just a few photos of him to finish off and one of my prize possessions, a letter I received from him when we first arrived in Western Australia.

Pop was an outdoors bloke from a very young age, these phenomenal photos were taken in the 1930s when he was in his 20s.

*Norman Nicoll, circa 1930s*
*Figure 12: Courtesy of the Nicoll Family Archives*

*Norman Nicoll, circa 1930s*
*Figure 13: Courtesy of the Nicoll Family Archives*

*Norman Nicoll, circa 1930s*
*Figure 13a: Courtesy of the Nicoll Family Archives*

*Norman Nicoll, circa 1930s*
*Figure 14: Courtesy of the Nicoll Family Archives*

He was also a family man who loved taking his family out camping and picnicking. This wonderful photo shows him relaxing with my Aunty Jan, his youngest daughter.

*Norman Nicoll and daughter, Janette Nicoll*
*Figure 15: Courtesy of the Nicoll Family Archives*

*Patricia, Norman & Kathleen Nicoll, circa 1950s*
*Figure 16: Courtesy of the Nicoll Family Archives*

*Kathleen, & Norman Nicoll, with Monica & Bernard Foote and children*
*Figure 17: Courtesy of the Nicoll Family Archives*

*Norman Nicoll & Peter Nicoll (Son) to the left*
*Figure 18: Courtesy of the Nicoll Family Archives*

*Kathleen and Norman Nicoll, circa the late 1960s*
*Figure 19: Courtesy of the Nicoll Family Archives*

And here he is Pop with my Uncle Peter and an older Aunty Jan.

*Janette, Norman and Peter Nicoll*
*Figure 20: Courtesy of the Nicoll Family Archives*

Pop apparently was an avid fisherman.

*Norman Nicoll*
*Figure 21: Courtesy of the Nicoll Family Archives*

And I’m fairly sure my Aunty Jan and Uncle Pete are chip’s off the old block. I don’t have a photo of Aunty Jan fishing or being outdoorsy but I know it runs deep through her psyche. I did find this fantastic photo of Uncle Pete with my son, Pop’s great-grandson Xander, fishing with his Pippo (what our boys call Uncle Pete) at Fisherman’s Reach.

*Peter Nicoll with Great Nephew, Xander Macvean, 2008*
*Figure 22: Courtesy of the Macvean Family Archives*

Here are Mum and Dad at their wedding reception with Nan, Pop and Uncle Pete.

*Patricia & Gary Macvean with Kathleen, Norman and Peter Nicoll, 1965*
*Figure 23: Courtesy of the Macvean Family Archives*

This is Pop in the centre of the wedding party, between Mum and Aunty Jan (his daughters). Dad and his sister, Aunty Karen are to the left of Mum.

*Macvean Nicoll Wedding Party*
*Figure 24: Courtesy of the Macvean Family Archives*

Dad with his newly minted parents-in-law, Nan and Pop, Kathleen and Norman Nicoll.

*Gary Macvean with Kathleen & Norman Nicoll (Parents-in-Law)*
*Figure 25: Courtesy of the Macvean Family Archives*

This was always one of my favourite photos of Pop and Nan. It is so clear and it is their eyes, there is so much going on. Oh, if I could just jump into this photo, what I would give to have a conversation with my grandparents at this stage with the knowledge I have now at 54 years of age.

*Kathleen & Norman Nicoll*
*Figure 26: Courtesy of the Nicoll Family Archives*

*Figure 27: Courtesy of the Macvean Family Archives*

I can remember Pop always had a comb in his back pocket and he used Brylcreem in his hair. He used to always ask me if I would do his hair for him. Oh, I loved being my Pops hairdresser. I remember exactly the feel of his hair with the cream in it and the smell of the cream, even after 48-odd years or so.

My final memory of Pop was going back to visit him in Sydney when he became ill. We had only been in Tom Price, the mining town in the Pilbara region of Western Australia matter of weeks when Mum got the call that something serious was happening with her dad’s health. I remember the flights back to Sydney so vividly but unfortunately, the memory of vising Pop at the hospital is hazy at best.

I wish so much that I got to spend more time with him. The six years we had were too fleeting, especially when you consider I was probably only really aware of him for the final two years of his life.