Some of you may have known Nick Francis. Amongst other commitments in the community, Nick was a Foodbank volunteer for over six years, collecting supermarket food donations in our van with David Ollendorff and John Pepler. Nick was well known and loved throughout the community having lived in Bath for 50 years. He sadly died in December 2025 following a long illness. Grainne Moher, Foodbank Manager and lots of his fellow Foodbank volunteers attended his funeral along with many others from the community. 

 

After his death, Nick has continued to support those facing crisis in our community. We heard from one of his daughters a few months ago. She was calling on behalf of her mother, Diana. Nick and Diana had decided that once they both died, they’d leave a percentage of their estate to the charities they cared about. But Diana wanted to honour Nick’s memory by donating the money now. In memory of Nick, she has passed Genesis a generous gift to support local people through the Foodbank. 

Nick and Diana are Quakers and Diana said that ‘caring for others less fortunate than yourself is central to our belief. Every human being matters and there is something of God in everyone.’ 

This strong connection to caring for others and for the planet has directed both of their lives, leading Diana to work in international peace building and Nick in recycling. They both worked for peace locally, leading weekly peace vigils in front of Bath Abbey and organising public meetings. Nick was passionate about what he believed in and never wavered from his principles. 

Nick’s commitment to Foodbank started in 2019 when he began volunteering. Diana said he really enjoyed going out in the van ‘with the lads’ and felt like he was doing something worthwhile. Both John and David have fond memories of their volunteering shifts together as a trio.  

David said, ‘Every Tuesday we would do our supermarket round, stopping halfway for a coffee and a croissant. We’d sit in the bus shelter opposite the Coop in Larkhall, enjoying our break together and putting the world to rights.’  

John added, ‘We may have been from very different backgrounds and careers but a real bond developed and even on busy shifts there was always great banter and the pleasure of time spent with friends.’ 

For the last three years of Nick’s life he was living with a progressive lung condition, pulmonary fibrosis, which is incurable. He still managed to go out on the van with David and John each week, all the way up to a week before he died. 

Grainne said that Nick was, ‘a true gentlemen and an extremely kind person.’ She was moved by the number of people who stood up to share their stories of Nick at his Quaker funeral. 

It is because of the kindness of people like Nick and Diana that vital services like the foodbank are able to operate. The Foodbank has more than 200 volunteers that ensure the smooth running of the service, providing emergency food for those in crisis. 

Thank you to Nick and Diana who are continuing to support the local people who need Foodbank long after they are physically involved. Your compassion and care are what our community needs to thrive. 

If you would like to find out more about leaving Genesis a gift in your Will, please contact Emma Drew: emma.drew@genesistrust.org.uk , 01225 438373. Or have a look at our Gift in Wills webpage.