Tributes to woman who helped all

By PAULA OLIVER

Clad in black and speaking without falter, the sister of slain diplomat Bridget Nichols yesterday told a huge funeral gathering of a conversation she had had with her sister just a week before tragedy struck.

"It was wonderful to hear her say she was very well, settling in and doing well," Sue Whibley said of Ms Nichols, who was still unpacking after taking up her new role as New Zealand's Deputy High Commissioner in the Solomon Islands.

The 50-year-old was found stabbed to death at her Honiara home 10 days ago.

Ms Whibley and her son Andrew flew from England to farewell Ms Nichols at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul yesterday.

Ms Nichols' elderly father, Trevor, was too frail to make the journey.

The mourners, who numbered 600, included politicians, diplomats, several high-ranking officials, servicemen and senior members of the legal fraternity.

Ms Nichols' coffin was draped in a New Zealand flag in recognition of her service to the country.

A representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for a decade, Ms Nichols also shone in an earlier career as a senior lawyer. She put that on hold in 1989 to pursue voluntary service overseas.

Throughout her solemn 70-minute funeral, the only murmur came when Neil Walter, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, drew a ripple of laughter as he recounted that Ms Nichols had loved fast cars as much as she detested speeding fines. She also "made a mean margarita".

Foreign Minister Phil Goff remembered meeting Ms Nichols during her posting to Turkey, where she helped to arrange the annual Anzac Day commemorations at Gallipoli.

Friends and family spoke without falter of Ms Nichols' enthusiasm, courage and determination.

More than one speaker told of her visit to the West Bank in the Middle East and how she had completed her journey on foot without security. Her taxi driver had refused to go any further.

"Bridget was a person of the highest integrity," Mr Goff said.

"A prodigiously hard worker with a strong sense of social justice and a first-class legal mind, it was in her nature always to lend a hand. Bridget would never step back from a challenge and she always got the job done."

Her energy knew no limits, long-time friend Prudence Barker said in a touching eulogy. She was a tiny woman, but a huge person, tough and strong, she said.

Ms Whibley said her sister loved to organise trips for her to whatever area she had been posted to, and got frustrated when her perfect plans had the slightest hiccup.

Mr Walter said Ms Nichols had been realistic about the difficulties and dangers that lay ahead for her when she was posted to the Solomon Islands. If she was apprehensive, she didn't show it.

"She was determined to do what she could to help. And that's exactly what she did, right up to the time that tragedy struck."

During her time with the Volunteer Service Abroad in the Solomons from 1989 to 1991, Ms Nichols helped the women of Gizo town build a market building. That building has now been renamed Bridget's House.

Ms Nichols' family spent more than half an hour thanking mourners at the cathedral's entrance after the service.

A memorial service will be held in Honiara tomorrow. Another will be held in Ankara, Turkey.