A STOURPORT man who was involved in various spheres of Wyre Forest life, ranging from business to sport, for more than 40 years has died.

Mike Nicol jointly set up Stourport’s Abigail fashion store in 1980, firstly in Lombard Street, before its move to High Street, with his late wife, Becky.

They married in the town in 1969 after Mr Nicol moved from his native Cardiff, where he was born in 1944. Mrs Nicol died in 2004.

When Mr Nicol left school he started work in a Cardiff department store, before leaving Wales and becoming an agent for women’s fashion labels, travelling the country. Friends joked he “travelled in ladies underwear” and he worked for companies including Mary Quant.

His love of all sports started with cycling and football. He was a founding and life member of the Wyre Forest Cycling Club, organising many events in the local area, including the Jean Baker Memorial Trophy around Astley and the Kidderminster Town Races.

He was particularly pleased when a new cycle track was opened near Stourport High School in 2010, securing new opportunities for young people and the wider community to use a grade one facility.

His passion for cycling drove him throughout his life. The mindset needed to battle through 12-hour races or to get up and ride a time trial before work gave him the fortitude to not just survive but live with renal cancer and subsequent complications, according to his family.

Seven and a half years ago Mr Nicol had a heart attack, stroke and was then diagnosed with cancer.

His daughter, Abi, said her father never moaned or felt sorry for himself, even when he broke his hip last summer.

Following the death of his wife and closure of Abigail, Mr Nicol became a fund-raiser for Kemp Hospice.

Over the years, he held posts with the United Commercial Travellers Association, was president of Stourport Rotary in 1985-86, involved with the Poppy Appeal and, most recently, with Astley and Dunley Village Hall. As treasurer he was an advocate of the proposed solar panels for the hall and hoped they would go ahead.

Mr Nicol, who died on Monday, January 16 at home surrounded by his family, leaves two children, Abi and Nathan and two grandchildren Noah, 7 and Megan, 4.

His funeral service takes place at Wyre Forest Crematorium tomorrow at noon.