Exmoor, United Kingdom
Tribute
'Nick Westcott' (1958 - 2023)
Nicholas George Westcott
Nick Westcott, Co-Founder of the Exmoor Pony Project and Chairman of the Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeder's Group sadly died on 23 June 2023, after a courageous 15 month battle with pancreatic cancer.
“It’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.”
Although taken from us at only 64 years of age, Nick lived a full and colourful life, reaching and touching the hearts of many with his beautiful, bountiful character and generosity of spirit. Handsome, intelligent, kind and enormous fun, Nick’s piercing blue eyes, radiant smile and heartfelt warmth were unforgettable. He really did light up the room when he walked in.
Nick was born at home on 4 August 1958 at Bromham Farm, Porlock, to Sidney and Margaret Westcott, and into a family that has lived and farmed in the Exmoor parishes for over 500 years. They later lived at Woodcocks Ley Farm and Buckethole Farm, Porlock. Nick grew up farming and fully embraced and loved life on Exmoor and knew the moor like the back of his hand.
A true Exmoor gentleman and lifelong farmer, many will fondly remember his sense of adventure and gregarious, charismatic nature.
During his life, Nick farmed at Buckethole, Liscombe, Honeymead, Tossels Barton at Brayford and Holt Ball, Luccombe. He has three children from his first marriage to Jane - Amy, Duncan and Caroline - and two grandchildren, Peter and Georgiana.
Nick leaves his wife Dawn. After meeting Dawn in July 2008, they married in September that year, describing each other as Soulmates, Through Dawn's Exmoor ponies, Nick rediscovered his family’s long history in the breed and together they re-established the Westcott family’s Herd 11 and founded the Exmoor Pony Project. Nick knew every pony by name and was very fond of them - they saw straight into his good heart and liked him. Nick was also Chairman of the Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeders Group, which was established in 2014.
Throughout his immensely challenging fifteen months of battling pancreatic cancer, Nick remained resolutely positive and determined, surprising the doctors with his strength and resilience, and he continued to work and farm. Embracing complementary therapies and healing, Nick has shone the light on the importance of nurturing our self-healing capability, along with seeking help from the medical world. Throughout his journey, he was thinking of how he could help others.
“Never measure your life by possessions. Measure it by the hearts you’ve touched, the smiles you’ve created and the love you’ve shared.”
Nick loved life and the world - and it loved him back. He radiated sunshine and warmth - a wonderful soul whose luminous light and energy continue.
Nick Westcott, we will always love you.
DONATIONS:
If you would like to make a donation to the Exmoor Pony Project 10th Anniversary Fund please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-exmoor-pony-project-10th-anniversary-fund
Poem: A True Man of Exmoor - Nick Westcott
His powerful presence.
A heart of pure gold.
A luminous light.
A sight to behold.
His radiant smile
and sparkling blue eyes.
Authentically warm,
knowing and wise
Wherever he went,
he lit up the place.
Bringing a smile
to everyone’s face.
If you needed a hand,
Nick would be there.
He’d put himself out,
without a care.
A true man of nature
the whole of his life.
A passion for Exmoor
he shared with his wife.
As his life slipped away,
the red deer stags came.
A fox passed the window,
Peacocks the same.
The Exmoors had gathered
In the pasture above.
Holding the energy,
radiating love.
The valleys and rivers,
forests and skies.
Infused with his energy,
as we say our goodbyes.
Nick’s soul lives eternal,
as ours will do too.
We wish you godspeed,
and will always love you.
By Dawn Westcott - June 2023
Nick Westcott planting the Rowan Tree at Holt Ball Farm in May 2022, to celebrate Dawn's new book, Rowan The Exmoor Pony.
Nick and Dawn
Our lovely friend David offered me these beautiful words recently, which I treasure and which give me great comfort after the loss of the love of my life:
The beautiful love between you and Nick is so pure and strong,
it shines golden and intensely bright.
Your love for each other is undying,
such is its power, not lost just transformed.
Love will give you strength.
Love will give you comfort.
Love will give you wisdom
and knowing that two Souls are connected for eternity.
Blessing for Nick
Nick, we thank you for your love, your light and your soul, that you brought to us and shared with us in your lifetime.
The healing you gave to others, without knowing, because of the power that walked within you, and the energy that surrounded you. People were drawn to you because you were their light and the love that they needed to heal.
Your personal strength is that of someone of a higher plain, and the control that you held in becoming a stronger version of yourself in times of need, were beyond the comprehension of many.
Nick, we are eternally thankful for all that you gave and all that you were.
We will show eternal gratitude for the gift of walking beside you in your lifetime.
We will find our strength in the strength that you gave us and we will think of you always for as long as there is light, because you are the light that comes with each new day, and you continue to shine down and surround us, giving us protection and courage.
We accept your departure and know that you must continue your journey. We release any hold that we have in the sanctuary of knowing that you will never leave us and are forever around us - there for us when we need you and guiding us from afar.
You have taught us so much and have inspired us to work to become the best versions of ourselves.
Journey to the place that needs you now, we are with you and will join you there one day.
Based on the beautiful words of Jamie Coombes.
Exmoor Compost is supported by the Exmoor National Park Authority Partnership Fund
