He kept coming back and stayed at Chalet von Siebenthal, which he rented for many years. His daughters Gytha, Amber, Olympia and his son, Alexander, all attended the JFK School. Every day he accompanied his son’s JFK skiing class, and his efforts earned him the Father of the Year award from ski instructor Marianne.

Above: Sir Nicholas was a collector of the most incredible ski-hats.

Even after leaving Chalet von Siebenthal, he kept coming back every year. Nicholas was passionate about skiing, and especially powder skiing; no slope was to steep for him. We did many helicopter powder runs in Gstaad and elsewhere. In the summer he would go on endless hikes with his family, dogs, house guests and friends. These outings would always include elaborate picnic lunches stored in baskets, all organized by his wife, Genie. He was a member of the Eagle Club, where his daughter Gytha celebrated her wedding. Nicholas was an officer in the Royal Horse Guards (Blues) for 17 years and his last post was as commander of the Guards Independent Parachute Regiment. He then took over the family business, Edmund Nuttall Ltd, an engineering firm dealing in the construction of tunnels and bridges. After he retired he became an active environmentalist in the Bahamas where he founded the Bahamas Reef Environmental Education Foundation, an organization which is still active today. He then went on to work with Tree for Life in Scotland, helping to restore the old Caledonian forest. Sir Nicholas will be greatly missed by all of his many friends in Gstaad, and I will miss my friend and ski companion.

A Memorial Service for Sir Nicholas will be held in London at the Guards Chapel on September 20 2007 at 15h00.