Remembering
Nikki Crawford
who died on 17th July 2018, aged 77
Dick Keighley has recorded the sad news that Nikki Crawford has died. Wimborne Orienteers offer condolences to the Crawford family.
Her daughter Karen writes "... my mum, passed away peacefully on Tuesday 17th July. The funeral service is on Thursday 23rd August 2018 at 12.15pm at Salisbury Crematorium and after at Woodgreen Village Hall. Flowers and /or donations to John Muir Trust or Stars Appeal for a 2nd MRI Scanner at Salisbury Hospital c/o IN Newmans Ltd, 22 High Street, Fordingbridge, SP6 1AX."
Sue Hands reflects:
Nikki was not just a first class orienteer. She was a keen gardener, bridge player, mountaineer, long distance walker who loved her family and enjoyed going to concerts.
She was one of those people who was keen to impart knowledge on the topics about which she was passionate , whether it be a plant , a discard system, how to use a carabiner, or lightweight rucksacks.
In the late 1970s she was introduced to orienteering by Jenny Thompson, who lent her a pair of o shoes. Nikki was attracted to the chance of putting map reading skills to physical activity and something she could do with her children, Karen and Fergus.
The two families became friends through the sport. She joined Wimborne because it was outside her medical patch.
From the start she did well at orienteering as her background of map reading for mountaineering expeditions and her love of the countryside made for a perfect start.
Within a couple of years she was a regular contributor to Waffle , writing articles about technique and training.
She always said her highlight was coming third in Tasmania in the Masters, which was part of her world tour with Bob, her husband.
In 1980 she did her first mountain marathon KIMM ( now OMM) with Bob on the Isle of Arran. This led to a further forty or so , mixture of OMM, LAMM, Highlander, Rab, Saunders. She enjoyed finding the lightest possible equipment...even chopping off tops of plastic bags !
She did many long distance walks and loved being at the summit of a mountain.
Bob remembers waiting on the tee for Nikki, who was supposed to be playing golf with him in the Mixed Blairgowrie foursomes one year. Ten minutes before tee off she comes roaring into the car park, jumps out of the car still in her orienteering clothes, rushes into the club house, gets changed and is ready with a minute to spare.
Most of us would not be able to concentrate on the golf but, in true Nikki style, she holes a long distance putt to clinch the title!
Nikki and friends at the JK Relays in 2013
Nikki at BOC 2015 and Highland 2015
Nikki with Sophie Lawrence and Jenny - JK Relay winners 1975