We were shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the death of Nick Booth — a long-standing Trustee of Birmingham Conservation Trust (BCT), an exceptional supporter of the Coffin Works, and above all, a kind and generous friend to so many of us. Nick’s contribution to our work was enormous, but it was the way he gave his time, energy, ideas, and heart that left the most lasting impression.
Elizabeth Perkin’s, former Director of BCT said:
“Nick served as a Trustee of BCT from 2002 to 2012, and remained a steadfast friend and ally even after formally stepping down. His connection to the Trust began in true Nick fashion — through a story. While working as a BBC regional news journalist, he came to the Back-to-Backs to film a short piece. It sparked something in him. He was immediately enthusiastic — and asked to join the Board. What followed was more than a decade of transformative influence.”
At the time, BCT was still largely run through the City Council, but ready to become more independent and outward-facing. Nick was the perfect person to help us do that. He brought sharp intelligence, deep curiosity, digital creativity, and a real belief in people’s stories — and in their power to shape change.
He didn’t just tell stories — he found storytellers. One of his greatest insights was recognising that Elizabeth Perkins, then Director of the Trust, was herself a gifted storyteller — with a deep passion for the people and places at the heart of Birmingham’s history. He knew that voice needed to be heard more widely. That’s why he gently (and sometimes not-so-gently) pushed her, and the Trust, onto social media.
Nick’s background at the BBC and his pioneering work with Podnosh made him a quiet force in digital public service and civic life. He believed in capturing stories in the moment, before they slipped away. For Nick, digital platforms weren’t about self-promotion — they were about connection, transparency, and community voice. And he was right there at the forefront, leading the way.
His legacy is especially visible at the Coffin Works, where he had a deep affection for the stories of the former Newman Brothers’ staff. Nick instinctively understood the importance of capturing their voices there and then — not with a clipboard for later, but with real-time interviews, cameras rolling. He recorded many of those stories himself, and today they remain a living part of the museum’s archive. He did all of this as a Trustee — not out of duty, but because he believed those stories mattered. That’s the legacy he leaves us: he made space for voices that could have been forgotten — and made sure they wouldn’t be.
He also ran free social media training sessions, sharing his skills to help others tell their stories with confidence. During the pandemic, he made generous donations to our crowdfunding campaigns. He was a champion — quietly, consistently, and without ever asking for thanks. Nick never wanted the spotlight. In fact, we’re not entirely sure what he’d make of this tribute — but there’s no way we couldn’t honour him.
Nick loved Birmingham — not just its buildings, but its people. He gave his time, his heart, and his humour — always generous, always curious, always fun to work with. Though he formally stepped down after ten years, Nick never truly left. He remained present, supportive, and available — always happy to help, always watching with pride.
We owe Nick Booth a great debt. His legacy is not just in what he built — but in what he inspired. In the stories we now tell, and the ones that still have space to be heard.
Thank you, Nick.
Sarah Hayes, Museum & Trust Director
2 Responses
Beautiful words about how much Nick cared about impact through storytelling and capturing stories and memories there and then. I worked with him on the Coffin Works project, filming, carrying out interviews and building trust with the workers, particularly Miss Green. I learned so much from Nick, mainly because he encouraged me to use my skills for good. It’s a powerful concept which he practiced with passion through Podnosh. I was proud to work anytime with him. I’m so glad there’s a legacy to all he worked on (of course there is!). We always reminisced about our time with Newman Brothers and how he loved being part of BCT. Reading this post has brought back happy fun memories and a smile, which is much needed to break through the sadness of his loss.