Tributes have been made across the radio industry for former Atlantic 252 presenter Simon Nicks who passed away on Monday morning.
A message on Facebook and Twitter today from his husband Liam confirms he had been fighting cancer but it “has just taken a hold”. He says “Simon passed away surrounded by his loved ones and of course listening to radio.”
Nicksy was diagnosed with Cancer and has been in hospital since he was told the news in February. He was just 44 years old.
He started off in hospital radio at the age of 14, then went on to work at many stations in the UK. He went on to host breakfast on Galaxy Manchester before moving on to present talk shows on Key 103 and City Talk. He was at Atlantic 252 for two years from 1992-1994, hosting weekdays 11am till 3pm and did the station production.
The list of stations that he worked on is endless, in the UK: Wire FM, Heart, Rock FM, Beacon, Metro, TFM and GNR, plus NRJ in Beirut. More recently he was Content Controller at Hallam FM, and Programme Director at Star Cambridge.
Friend and colleague Joanne Lowe, who produced Simon at Manchester’s Key 103 and Liverpool’s City Talk, told us: “I’m devastated by the loss of my close friend. Nicksy was one of the best people I knew, kind, funny, caring, and not to mention he an amazingly talented broadcaster. I’m honoured to have been his friend, his producer, and his radio wife. I will miss him immensely, he was an outstanding person who I loved dearly.”
Dave Nicholson from Hospital Radio Tyneside, where Simon first found his love of radio, told RadioToday: “Simon joined Radio Tyneside when he was 16 years old. Even back then you could tell that radio ran through his veins. He was a popular member and even after he left to go on to bigger and better things never forgot where he started. My thoughts go out to his husband Liam and his family.”
Heartbreaking news that Simon Nicks has passed away – a very sad day indeed #RIP
— Terry Underhill (@TerryUnderhill) May 29, 2017
Totally devastated that Simon Nicks has passed away. I honestly can't believe it. Rest in peace mate.
— Sean Goldsmith (@SeanGoldsmith2) May 29, 2017
So sad to hear the news about simon nicks 🙁 genuinely talented funny man such a loss : x
— Wes Stakes (@Wesstakes) May 29, 2017
RIP to a funny, nice, kind man Simon Nicks aka @Nicksy . Radio has lost a talent and so many people have lost a good friend. Very sad.
— Sam Walker (@WalkerSam) May 29, 2017
RIP Simon Nicks – a true radio pro and nice guy. So many people are missing you as seen on social media. Gone too soon. ☹️
— Spence Macdonald (@spencemacdonald) May 29, 2017
Very sad to hear another good radio guy has left us.
Simon Nicks RIP luv xx ?
— Les Gunn (@funny_gunny) May 29, 2017
RIP to a genuinely lovely fella, Simon Nicks (@Nicksy). Awful and absolutely unexpected news. pic.twitter.com/NLBtS7BQ15
— Jay McCreary?☕️?? (@JayMcCreary) May 29, 2017
RIP Simon Nicks @Nicksy . A talented member of our radio family taken far too soon xxx
— Emma Goswell (@emmagoswell) May 29, 2017
We are devastated to hear about the death of radio presenter Simon Nicks this morning. pic.twitter.com/rd7xuh2E0T
— Aircheck Downloads (@airchecks) May 29, 2017
My dear friend Simon Nicks ….https://t.co/tgRAWV9Exy
— Tony Horne (@HorneyMedia) May 29, 2017
Gutted that we lost our friend, and @TwerkMCR co-founder, Simon Nicks aka @Nicksy this morning. I'll miss his kindness & his devastating wit
— Will ? (@WillMcHoebag) May 29, 2017
Totally sad and shocked to hear the loss of Simon Nicks.
— Baxter (@DJ_Baxter) May 29, 2017
Just heard about the death of Simon Nicks (@Nicksy). Worked with him on Liverpool's City Talk. Top radio talent & a decent bloke. RIP.
— Duncan Barkes (@DuncanBarkes) May 29, 2017
R.I.P. Nicksy (Simon Nicks), the industry has lost one of the good ones .. taken far too soon x
— Mike Lewis DJ Kuta (@DJKuta) May 29, 2017
So sorry to hear that Simon Nicks has passed away. Enjoyed working with him @1074towerfm covering #bwfc. RIP
— Mark Wilson (@MarkWilsonRadio) May 29, 2017
Hero and dear… https://t.co/IhW4P5F9dt
— Enda W. Caldwell (@radioenda) May 29, 2017
We are very shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Simon Nicks. RIP @Nicksy x
— The Pips (@ThePipscouk) May 29, 2017
Just found out that Simon Nicks has passed away. Very sad news. He was such a lovely, funny guy. ??
— Lucy Horobin (@LucyHorobin) May 29, 2017
Sad to hear about Simon Nicks (@nicksy) today. We did some funny links together at Key103 in Manchester. A natural talent. RIP dude x
— Matt Mackay (@MattMackayDJ) May 29, 2017
Here’s Nicksy winning Station of the Year with his team at Hallam FM: