Nicholas William Critchlow (1934-2020)

”If variety be the spice of life then Nick Critchlow can certainly claim an existence more piquant than most – at least as far as his career with Esso is concerned.

Born in Newcastle, Staffordshire, Nick was educated at Worksop College, Notts. before going on to study chemistry at the former Battersea Polytechnic, now the University of Surrey. Nick is rightly proud of the many years of service, between them, have ”notched up” with Esso. His father was with the company from 1920 until 1960 and his brother, Carl, is also an employee. Nick joined Esso in 1950, in the Technical Sales department at Vauxhall.

Three years later came National Service and a commission into the Royal Army Service Corps (Petroleum) but not, he recalls with a wry smile, before a harrowing stint at the Mons Officer Cadet School, in Aldershot, where raw young recruits were taught how to become officers under the stern auspices of the famous Sergeant-Major Britton,

Back in ”civvy street” in 1955, Nick’s next job was at Yarsley Research Laboratories in Chessington. He returned to Essp Technical Sales Department at Feltham, Middlesex in 1958 and from there, in 1959, he transferred to Cambridge District to become an industrial sales rep.

In 1975, Nick was loaned by the company, through the Action Resource Centre, to the Inner London Probation Service as the first commercial adviser to ILPAC – the Inner London Probation and After-Care Service – and, in fact, he helped to found the Bulldog Manpower Services Commission, a transitional supportive employment scheme for ex-offenders. 

At the time of going to Press [1980], Nick was once more firmly installed in head office, as recruitment and personnel development adviser, ER department (Marketing) where he is responsible for Marketing recruitment and training. 

A keen gardener and ”do-it-yourself” enthusiast, Nick also enjoys sailing. He lives with his wife, Elizabeth and three sons, aged 9, 13 and 15 in Speldhurst, near Tunbridge Wells.” Headline – The Newsletter for Head Office, Esso Petroleum Co Ltd (Wed 2nd July 1980)