Tributes have been paid to one of the country’s leading estate agents who has died after serving some 40 years in the industry.
Nick Taylor was managing director of John D Wood & Co, part of Countrywide, up until the time of his death. He had worked as operations director alongside the legendary Peter Young, running the business together until the latter’s retirement in 2015.
Taylor became managing director the following year.
He was known as an inspirational leader with a huge laugh – and had many friends in the industry.
He joined Mann & Co in the late 1970s, rising to head of sales in the late 1980s, where he was instrumental in developing the business and brand.
He continued to work for Countrywide in a number of roles before joining John D Wood 20 years ago in 1999.
Paul Creffield, group managing director of Countrywide, said: “Our industry has lost a tireless champion of the critical role agents play in serving our customers.
“I was lucky enough to have known Nick for many years and I will always be grateful for his support.
“Those of us who knew Nick well have lost a friend who will be greatly missed.”
Polly Ogden Duffy, regional sales and lettings director at John D Wood & Co, said: “Nick was an inspirational leader, a mentor and a friend to many.
“He had an infectious personality and a selfless approach to his role as managing director.
“He referred to John D Wood & Co as a family, and his leadership, care and support for all our employees will be felt in his absence.
“His ability to light up a room with his roaring laughter will always be remembered.”
She and Jonathan Dyson will continue, as they have done over the last ten months of Nick’s illness, to oversee the sales and lettings operations within John D Wood & Co.
A very sad day as Nick was one of the true gentlemen of the industry with the most amazing sense of humour. He will be sorely missed by all that knew him.
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Agreed Agent 10140.
A very sad day. In a world full of “Gentleman Estate Agents” who deep down were nothing of the kind, Nick Taylor stood out as the real thing. One of the most genuinely caring and patient people I ever worked with.
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Charming guy and definitely the old school focus on relationship building. Sold his agency when young and spent many years inside Countrywide. I imagine he provided some reassurance to the JDW team after Platt et al starting destroying its brand / senior team. Thoughts to his family.
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I had the pleasure of reporting in to Nick for a couple of years. He was a class act in every way. A wonderfully supportive leader with a wickedly dry sense of humour, who always had time for his staff. In an industry with more than its fair share of unsavoury characters, Nick was a reminder that you can be successful the right way. He will be sorely missed and fondly remembered.
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I have known Nick for 25 to 30 years, and as a client he was always an absolute pleasure to work with. He felt very strongly that estate agency was a people business and that any company’s success came down to the quality of staff working in it. As a consequence he was passionate about recruiting the right people, and equally as passionate about looking after them. My interactions with Nick were always a positive experience, filled with professionalism, integrity, and always a dash of humour. Added to that, Nick was 100% a man of his word, a rarity in the world we now live in. My condolences go out to his family, friends and work colleagues. RIP Mr Taylor.
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Live your life to be respected and remembered like this and you won’t go far wrong.
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Hear, hear.
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Well said, Robert.
I remember the late, great actor Paul Eddington being interviewed shortly before his death in 1995. When asked what he would like to be his epitaph, he said he hoped he would be remembered as ‘doing very little harm’.
Words to aspire to.
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Hows about saving your issues for another article.
Have some respect.
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Sincere condolences to those that knew and loved Mr Taylor.
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No doubt saddened by a company who he made a huge contribution to being steered by an inept set of BODS into the rocks
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Hillofwad71 – I keep meaning to ask you and now seems as good an opportunity as any.
What is or are “BODS”? It’s an expression that you use constantly…….
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Board of directors?
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I worked with Nick for a little over a year and although we did not see eye to eye at times, his love of his company and his job was without question.
He was certainly a larger than life character and with Peter Young at the helm, JDW really was a great place to be. Sadly, I feel things are on the change.
Nick was an old school agent (in a nice way) good fun to be with and, a great socialiser and I am sure he will be very sadly missed by all that knew him.
RIP Nick!
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I worked with him in the late 80’s at Mann and Co. Top guy, very sad news indeed.
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Dear Nick rest in peace, you are in my prayers and I will never forget you . You inspired me to follow my dreams and with Peter were the best boss I have had.
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Just seen this, very sad news. An honest chap that will be missed by many that knew him. Thoughts are with his family.
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A wonderfully warm man who was an inspiration in and out of the industry – so many lovely tributes.
He really was a true gentleman – I was honoured to have know him – love and light to all his family
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