'Kind and generous' Rotherham Abuse Counselling Service chair Nick Arkle dies at 63

Nick Arkle helped launch the award-winning “Beyond the Cuckoo's Nest” project in Rotherham with the aim of increasing mental health awareness and dismantle the stigma around it. 

He was the author of several academic papers on the subject, having started his career as a staff nurse in York and worked in Scotland and Sheffield becoming a community psychiatric nurse with Rotherham working for Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber Trust (RDASH).

Nick died at the end of March following a short illness.

Newly appointed chair Faye Batho said: “Nick always made a point of praising the courage of people who contacted the organisation for support and the outstanding professional skills of the counsellors who provide it.

“He was kind and generous with his time.  

“His gentle encouragement, goodness and hard work will be missed by us all.”

Nick leaves a wife Ali, daughter Rachael, sons Tom, Sam and Padraig, as well as two grandchildren, Grace and Moses.