Nicholas Butcher Tributes, Condolences & Bereavement

TG tributes 2005 / The Gathering Clan Gaming Site (Friends)

Copied from the Gathering site when Nick first died

On Wednesday the 23rd of March 2005 Nick Butcher, aka TG|Nikonus passed from this life in his sleep at the age of 21.
Just incase people didnt know, Nick had a rare condition of the lungs that meant he has always had to fight illness. But fight it he did, and unless you actually asked he would never let on, he always just got on with things, joked about it, had fun and made all our lives better for it.
Gaming also became a big part of his life. He came to TG wanting to play Jedi Knight II with us, as he'd known many of us for months/years before. He quickly became part of the scenery at TG, always on IRC, always joking on MSN, and always on Teamspeak taking the micky out of people or shouting when someone (or he himself) did something stupid in a game. Recently though Starwars Galaxies became his game of choice, and it was rare to not see his X-Fire profile with that little icon showing.

But now he's gone

But - Nick wouldnt want us all to be moping around, he'd be there telling us to "Shut up and get on with it" which is what I guess we should do. This thread is a place for anyone who wants to to post their memories of Nick. Your memories of him, any stories you want to share, perhaps any pictures or screenshots, its totally up to you, but lets remember here the good times, the laughs and the man that was Nick Butcher.

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 2:59 pm

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I am very sad to hear this. I had the chance to chat with and get to know Nikonus.. It is such a tragedy when someone dies at such a young age. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

R.I.P Nikonus. You will be greatly missed

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 3:25 pm
Words cannot describe how im feeeling atm to be honest with u all.

When this happened at MoD i could never fully understand the impact it had on the members of MoD.

Nikonus was a good friend to many members of this clan, i hope that he may RIP. My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family.

Llama / Sam

posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:21 pm
I remember when i had a chat with him on msn that i told him "god im about to cough my lungs out".. then he politley asked if he could trade lungs with me.. i see i was wise to not accept

RIP m8, Hope your somewhere better now

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:33 pm
:'( He will be missed, deeply. When I first joined he was one of the first to be nice to me and show me about on css, talked to him on msn alot to, I never even knew he was ill

Even though I didn't know him too well, this has still kind of hit me hard :/.....

I wish him to be well and free where ever he has gone.

posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:34 pm
A loss for words, what can be said? a great guy always up for a laugh. i will miss him just as many others im sure . RIP nik you will always be in our thoughts

posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:47 pm
I am speechless... nick was one of the nicest people i meat in TG... i also never knew he was ill so this is like a punch in the face for me...
I will never forget him!!!

R.I.P. Nick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:48 pm
bye nik
may you RIP

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:49 pm I'm realy lost for words this has shocked me some what, nik was very nice guy i remember the chats we had on msn the jokeing comments he made about his condition.

I will allways remember how strong he seemed to me and thats a strenth that i could never have had or the curage he had.

R.I.P mate

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:57 pm
nick truely was a great guy, fun and intelligent. he always made me laugh.

i wil never forget the day he told us he dropped his ipod in the toilet

and i will never forget my brother in arms nikon

RIP nick, you will live on in us

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:03 pm
Well that really came as a shock.

Nikonus was one of the nicest people that I had ever met, always up for a laugh aswell. I am sure his presence will be deeply missed here.

May he rest in peace. His family will be in our prayers.

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:04 pm
He was a good guy, always making fun,
You will live on in TG Nick.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
R.I.P. Nick

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:08 pm
Its a sad time for all, Nick was the guy who first convinced me to play css when i first joined TG.
I remember how he pestered the hell out of me till i gave in.
Im sorry to hear he's gone
RIP nick, you will not be forgoten.

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:12 pm
For every day that goes by, we lose another sensible human being.
Rest in peace Niko, you will be missed.

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:14 pm
this is terrible
Nik was a great guy. I've had great times with him in TG.
Im speechless to be honest, this is a damn shock.
R.I.P Buddy, May you get all the women u desire in heaven!
you will never be forgotton.

posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:21 pm
I knew nik through SWG and he was a great guy,always happy,would talk to anyone and one of those people that you can't help but like them.
may he still get to kick rebel arse in heaven!
My prayers go to his friends and family.
R.I.P NICK!!

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:57 pm
I'm in bits
I've always considered you guys on the net to be friends but it's so disconnected from reality, it feels different to real life friends.
This has hit me too hard, I can't stop cryng
To my m8, neek, you made me laugh a lot in the short time I had to spend with you.
Your tantrums on CS, your noobishness in SWG, you cheered me up no end.
Your fights with that crazy dog had me laughing for ages.

I remember you telling me how ill you felt but then you would go out, get into fights or come online at 2am.
I never really thought the condition affected you that bad and kinda thought you put it on a bit.
Now your gone
I feel so bad for thinking that.
I will never forget you m8, I trully never will.
I'll post again soon m8, I cant think and it hurts.

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 6:09 pm
Damn I don't know what to say...
He was a nice person and good SL.. always listed and always have fun and make others laugh.
I'm also speechless.. I'm also shocked and upset
R.I.P Nik and we will never forget u.
I will post more l8r, I'm to upset right now.

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 6:25 pm
My deepest condolences to our friends at TG.
Nik was one of the first decent players I met in jk2 and he was one of the only few who actually could motivate one, I remember him exactly telling me I'd beat him within a week - I sucked so bad at that time and the week became good 3 months.
Was always fun to have him around - he will be missed...

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 6:36 pm
My god what a shock. i have known nick for about 2 years and i never knew about his illness. he was a very likeable bloke and always made me laugh and others around him. i had some fun with nik in the past.
i cannot get over this what a shock and out the blue.
i for 1 will miss nick alot.
Rest In Peace mate and give the gaming world up there hell mate like i know you will.
you will be sadly missed.

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 7:02 pm
I'm speechless...speechless and shocked. I almost can't believe it............RIP Nik.........
I didn't knew that he was this ill.
He was a fun guy. It was always cool to play CS:S with him and have him on TS.
Rest In Peace Nik....................

posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 7:19 pm
I played a few games against nik, good guy, sad to hear this
Rest in peace mate, rest in peace

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 8:21 pm
he was one of the first people that talked to me in TG , i will miss him lots and may he RIP

posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 8:48 pm
... Can't find the words... I'm just shocked ... RIP

posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 9:01 pm
tomorrow we have a LAN at school. Chrono,Reems, Freaqout, shinobi
they be there and somemore ppl. Now to pay respect to Nik we well have
one minute of silence. Just for the TG members, and ex members, for no-one else. To pay respect to Nik.. We are struggling with accepting the fact that he is gone..
Our deepest regards oncemore

posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 9:02 pm
RIP Nick.
Too young, that's all i have to say about it. Too young

posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 9:56 pm
rest in peace, Nik.

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 10:28 pm
all i have to say is R.I.P nik m8. Im at a loss for words this is a truly awfull thing to happen i didnt know he was ill. we had our little figths but he never held a grudge he was a good man and i as im sure you all will, will miss him dearly
R.I.P m8

posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 11:17 pm
I really don't know what to say.... R.I.P Nick

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 1:23 am
I'm arranging a guild meeting at city on swg on Sunday night at 11pm.
Cos most members are in different time zones and Llama being in Hong Kong as well.
I will take screenshot and post them on here for u all to see
I have put a lovely statue in TG guild city in loving memory of Nick.

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 1:45 am
Nik was an amazing guy who never failed to make me laugh. He genuinely cared about people and was a good friend.

Dude, I hope you carry on kicking npc arse, shouting and ridiculing them all the way while you're up there. Episode 3 won't be the same without you.

Too young... far too young...
Amie

posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 1:48 am
As tears well in my eyes...21...thats no age....
This is the first ime I saw this post....and today I watched a funeral of a 13 year old girl that was cut down and killed by a car.

I only knew nik for a very short time...and I thank SWG for that as its a game that makes you talk to people. I can't believe it...he was full of life in game, but he must have been so ill in life. When people say that games ruin kids lives, this proves in some instances, no matter what crap life throws at you, in game your strong, healthy and full of life. Nik, that was you mate.

I have never stated before, but I have a daughter who will be 21 this June (I am 39)...he was young enough to be my son. I just hope he classed me as a friend.

Sleep well son, you certainly made an impact here!

Can I suggest that we all sign something electronically and if someone can post it to his family, just so they know what we all thought about him?

I am so shocked and saddened.

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 1:51 am
i'm thinking on the same lines macky - tho mebbe a real card, sent round all the TG members who want (feel able to) sign it, then sent onto the family. Maybe with some flowers or something if we can co-ordinate that.

watch this space

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 1:55 am
Real card....wouldnt that be a memorial

We could send it around the world for all to sign! Let me know if you need my address...i'll PM it.

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 2:01 am
I would be honourd to sign a card, if it was being sent around to people, I think this is a great idea, have people from all over the world sign it. I think it will mean alot to Nick's family and RL friends.

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 3:27 am
There is one problem with the card - I myself would want to write a little note at the bottom of it - offering my sympathies to his family. I doubt there will be room for everyone to write little notes of their own, and to be honest I think only the family should see them.

Perhaps Daniel could give us an adress to send individual cards to the family?

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 8:25 am
Nikonus gone, i don't know what to say or think.
Nick, yes, he was full of life, and had a great personality.

I remember him from the clan RF, but i lost contact after the clan broke up. Tough, its still such sad news, my condolances to every1 that knew him, and especially to his family.

Its a tragedy .. so young .. my toughts are with you

My best regards, and RIP my friend ..

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 10:37 am
I think I had one too many pints last night tbh got a banging headache hehe.

I'm glad you managed to read these comments, I think they just show how many people Nick came into contact with over the Internet and how many people cared for him. Our thoughts are with you still

I also think we're going to try and arrange something in Nicks memory. I dont think we're quite sure what it will be, but we'll keep you informed!

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 11:50 am
Man i feel so shocked, I was nvr in TG but i was a good m8 of his as he was in RF with me and many other of my friends.... But now, well i'm just amazedto see him go, he always put up a good fight with the disease and never showed any signs of him having one, i knew myself but quickly forgot as he didn't show any signs of going... I too had noticed that he was not on Xfire or MSN anymore and was kinda feeling quite worried, but now i know why. I think the best action for us all to take is at least put one memory on here and try to get along with our lives, otherwise we could be moarning for him forever longer!

RIP Nick! Though you probably tell people to shut up about it and move on with our lives, you will still be missed greatly and will never be forgotten!

In times such as these i send all my friendship to you and now pray for your happiness in your rest...

Kyle
aka Saber_Master

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 12:07 pm
I... just cannot describe the powerlessness and sadness I feel, and I'm sure everyone else feels it too. Nik already told me about his disease and because I've also got some issues with my lungs we always made fun of ourselves.
I just heard it today and knew Nick from RF, I joined last year and we got along pretty well. Playing guitar for eachother through the mic's, him recording his stuff... it's just.....god I don't know what to say...
Even after the clan split up we still held contact. He was just...so strong and always continued fighting that I thought he would be all right for another couple of years, which is why I'm absolutely speechless to hear he's really gone..

I want to offer my condolences to everyone that knew Nik, was friends with him, but especially to his family. My prayers'll be with them.

Good luck all,

posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 1:57 pm
i simply dont beleive this...

we went through a lot me and him, played pool on yahoo, those were good times, he always thrashed me of course...i dont beleive this is happening.

i remember fondly when i first entered the RF server and he was a pleasent person to speak to and taught me much of what i know about the game and helped me play better. i stuck by him and he stuck by me.

well dude, your great, i just dont know what to say.
Rest In Peace my friend.

Your Pal. Dark Lord.

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 1:59 pm
yeah, he was really cool during my time at RF, but I haven't seen him since I got kicked - I never knew about his lung condition either , well I enjoyed my time playing with him on JK2 a lot, and I'll miss him.
R.I.P Nikonus, I won't forget you

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 2:10 pm
Nicks Family wrote:
I would just like to say thank you to everyone for all your kind words. It is still such a shock to us and such a tragedy. Many of you didnt know he was ill and he could be who he wanted to be on the internet. FOr all of you who made his life that bit happier we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
and as nick would say game on.
I hope you all have a pint for him !!!
from
Nicks Family
XXXXXXXXX

.. oo go on then, ill have a pint

Its great that you all got to see this. hope you all make it through this difficult time ok. Best wishes from manchester

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 2:41 pm
I said to myself i wouoldnt post on here anymore, but this warrants such an occassion, i didnt game that much with him, but he was always a good laugh and was one of the good ones

R.I.P m8 my thoughts are with you and your family...

posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 3:38 pm
very sad indeed, kind of reminds you how fragile life can be. I duelled with nikonus on JA a good few times, he was always their to have fun, have a laugh and I would never have known he was that ill . My thoughts go to his family. Where ever you are Nik I hope your flying high...

posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 12:18 am
WTF!!!! NO WAY!
oh man that oh man im speachless!
i chatted to him like a brother
we where talking alot to each other and we always said that we would plan a night out together. oh man

this has just hit me to teh heart! he alwasy said to me once he gets better me and him should hook up and go out to pull some Girls! and thats what i was planning to do. oh man this ...this.. oh man!

Rest In Peace my Brother

you will be missed!!

" WHOA! "
Dedicated to my Bro Nik

posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 3:02 am
WOW! I am shocked and stunned and sadened by this news. I got the occasion before leaving SWG to play with him and chat with him on a few occasions. I never knew how seriously ill he was. He truly got to escape real life and totally own! Good for him! He deserved to be superior in some world even if it wasn't the real one! Your legacy will live on!

Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 9:40 pm
just learnt the news 10 mins ago, and I'm absolutely gutted
I didn't know Nick well, we danced together in Theed cantina and his "sexy Rodian" macro's had me in fits of laughter, I too had no idea he was ill.

I knew him well enough to know he would have loved the new breakdance dances in game, so tomorrow at 8pm GMT I want to get as many dancers into Theed cantina to have a breakdancing party in his memory
I'll post it on the swg.com intrepid board, and if anyone else can post it on other forums, please do

Hope to see you there

Sarah-Louise

posted: Sun Mar 27, 2005 4:15 am
I love you Nik. I Truly did.
I know you have gotten annyoed with me many times, my constant screaming. I never had a chance to apologize. Never had a chance to say goodbye. I'm sorry Nik. I am, I am Too lost for words to describe my sorrow.
Nik - From A Friend. I'm Sorry, and you shall always have a place in my heart.

posted: Sun Mar 27, 2005 9:16 pm
I'm very sorry to hear of niks passing,,, I knew him very well within the jk2 world but didnt know of his problems so this comes as a bit of a shock to me.
Best thoughts and respect go out to Nick.
you will be sorely missed m8,, peace.

RaVeN

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 12:16 pm
I didn't know him very well, but i played few times with him he was a good guy, may god have his soul.
Rest In Peace Nik

Greetz Maarten, King.Duck

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 8:06 pm
The first real friend I got in tg... Dead...
I really don't know what to say...
Rest in peace Banzia teräs käsi champion Nick!

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 9:12 pm
This was heartbreaking news. Always a tragedy when someone dies at such low age...

R.I.P Nick

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 8:31 am
can either daniel or Nicks Family contact me please? I think several members want to send something to you through the post and I was wondering if we could have an address to send things to.

Thanks

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 6:20 pm
OMFG!! I wasnt even aware he was sick. Go in peace buddy!

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 8:29 pm
Away goes the shock, in sets realisation.
Give me an hour, I can produce a list of thousands that deserve it, Nick is not even considerd.
What injustice to his parents, no parent should go through this.
We had an untimely death at work recently, everyday I walk past her desk, turn to say hello Desk is empty........ Nick will be missed on the forums, I can understand Rhyno's decision

The best thought I had was emagining Nick in heaven, complaining about the respawn time
"OMG!!! joo laming n00b!!! turn up the respawn time already!!!"

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 4:54 pm
I just found out and am in shock - I had not realised like so many of you that he was ill or at such a high risk.

When I first met Nick he was leader of the Raging Flames JK2 Clan and was having loads of shit with the lamer Clan dP/ (dogpound), even with all the childish crap he was damn good at kickin' their arse and text retort!

Nick was also instrumental in helping set up the JK2 Clan League along with KCD1 RaVen & myself. Thanks m8, if season 2 goes ahead we will dedicate it to you.
You were great fun to duel and a decent bloke.
I'm gonna miss ya.

My condolences to the family and other friends...

V-out

posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 5:13 pm
I palyed with nicka few times, he is the most down to earth and decent bloke i know, thoughts with family and friends
R.I.P mate

posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 6:58 pm
ii dont know what to say, just that my thoughts are with his family now.
sorry this is so short, just that there is no way i can put into words how i feel or even anything that is deserved of something like this.

r.i.p nick

posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 7:51 pm
I havnt seen him for quite a while, and ive ony seen him a few times, but when he was at a server, the chat never stalled. every tim i saw him, it looked like we was happy.
I really dont know why those people always have to go so quick.
May he live forever in our hearts.
for those who had only so few time

R.I.P. Nick.
-Ew- Archangel, Tim.

posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 9:03 pm
Bro, i miss you.
the story goes on, only you knew the ending.

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 5:44 am
Reading this news hit me like a road train hittin a kangaroo.
Will miss our ts convos and ur verbal abuse!
U made the sun shine on a cloudy day
My deepfelt condolances
R.I.P. Nik
-The Barbarian/Norwegian n00b

Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 5:37 pm
I played with Nik in JKII for months, in his clan RF. He was the best clan leader i ever had. He was a legend, and by looking at the size of this thread i can see that he will really made a difference.

Goodbye Nik.

Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 4:44 am
I had the shock of my life today... I saw Nick's yahoo id pop up and it had been months since I'd seen him online... so I messaged him... only to find out from his father that he had died.

Nick's dad was gracious enough to speak with me for several minutes and send me this link. I'm not a gamer in the sense that you guys are so I am a stranger here.

I met Nick over two years ago on Yahoo and we Role Played our characters based off The World of Warcraft. I didn't know anything about the game, so he quickly filled me in.

However as much fun as we had in RP, we quickly decended into a more personal relationship. We began to chat more than we ever RP'd. I knew about his condition and he had told me he wanted to come to The States but could not due to the compression on Airplanes. He spoke of taking a cruise here and I spoke of taking a trip to London.

We often spoke over a microphone and I teased him that his English accent made me melt and he teased me about loving my southern accent... as I'm from Atlanta. We also watched each other on webcam quite often and I remember seeing him with an oxygen cannula in his nose several times when we chatted.

I remember the first time we chatted on webcam... he left it on while he went to bed, and I watched him sleep for a long time... he was always incredibly sweet and warm to me. Even when he felt like Hell physically.

He was always quick to sing in front of the camera or play his guitar for me. He was a sweetheart and I'll miss him terribly. They say only the good die young... I suppose thats true in his case indeed.

The last time I spoke to him was Febuary 16th. He had told me he was undergoing a battery of tests to see if he would qualify for a lung transplant. I had asked him if there was any word on the subject. I knew he wasn't feeling well. There would be long stretches of time where I didn't see him online. Most times I chalked it up to the 5 hour time difference between us, that I was just missing him. Hearing the news from his father today is truly devastating to me. I only hope Nick is in a better place and that he knows how much I cared about him before he left this realm.