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Warm tributes follow death of Nigel Brown, 77 - a ‘mentor, inspiration and benefactor’ to many in Cambridge




He led an extraordinary life – fully engaged in business, philanthropy, music, academia, charity work and the community – and warm tributes have been paid following the death of Nigel Brown at 77.

He founded financial services company NW Brown Group in Cambridge in 1974, formed the Stradivari Trust, created the classical music agency Hazard Chase, founded arts funding organisation ArtShare, was a former chairman of the Cambridge Arts Theatre and supported Cambridge Music Festival.

Nigel Brown. Supplied by Stradivari Trust (62242805)
Nigel Brown. Supplied by Stradivari Trust (62242805)

He spent time as chairman of the University of Cambridge audit committee and as chairman of the Greater Cambridge Partnership, was a previous High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and earned an OBE in 2008.

His friend Hugh Parnell told the Cambridge Independent: “Nigel was benefactor, mentor and inspiration to so many people in Cambridge and beyond, including me. What is so astonishing was his accomplishments in so many totally diverse activities, in all of which he originated, developed and enabled success. Few of us are aware or involved with more than a corner of his multiple life.

“From the initiation of what became a multi-functional financial advisory business with funds under management of more than £1bn, to his imagination and creation of the Stradivari Trust with now 60 individual beneficiaries, from setting up a motorcycle endurance team that competed across Europe to being a leading representative of Cambridge real tennis across the world, the sheer extent of his diverse engagements was so broad.

“In the Cambridge business ecosystem, he set up two venture capital firms, helped four other early stage funds, invented a business angel activity, co-founded the Cambridge Network alongside developing his eponymous group and still found time to help others in both local universities and the Citizens Advice Bureau.

“He chaired both Magpas Air Ambulance and Saffron Hall Trust for many years, helping them survive and grow with no public funding.

“It is hard not to seem to exaggerate but the wonderful thing about this multiplicity is that he was respected in all these different endeavours and leaves behind many who, like me, will miss him immensely. Nigel Brown RIP – boss, colleague, dear friend.”

A love of violins and music led Nigel to form the Stradivari Trust, which helps musicians to buy instruments over a 20-year term.

It came after he helped to fund the acquisition of a £370,000 violin – ‘La cathédrale’ Stradivari – for the young Nigel Kennedy in 1985.

He once recalled: “As soon as I’d done the deal for Nigel, I had a queue of musicians outside.”

Beneficiaries have since included Steven Isserlis, Natalie Clein, Lawrence Power and Jennifer Pike. The trust became a registered charity in 2004.

Nigel Brown, who died at the age of 77. Supplied by: Stradivari Trust
Nigel Brown, who died at the age of 77. Supplied by: Stradivari Trust

Dr Nigel Yandell, director of music at Hughes Hall, where Nigel became an honorary fellow in 2011, said: “Nigel’s legacy is enormous. His patronship of the arts in and around Cambridge, in particular, has changed lives and launched careers; and his wider philanthropic and business endeavour have impacted so many more people through his work supporting SMEs, developing regional organisations, and championing music and the arts in their widest sense. There are world-leading businesspeople, numerous successful companies, regional and national economic successes, tech booms, influential charities and not-for-profit initiatives, as well as individual musical legacies that exist because of Nigel. His name is synonymous with making a difference and improving lives in every corner of our region, and all of us here at Hughes Hall will miss his dynamism and compassion.”

Claire Ruskin, executive director at Cambridge Network, added: “Nigel was fun and thoughtful, so it came naturally for him to help conceive Cambridge Network to act as a generous organisation, helping Cambridge to share time and energy of some of the greatest thinkers in the region. Twenty five years ago that was a big part of the innovation happening in Cambridge, and the legacy lives on, with collaboration one of the reasons for the Cambridge Phenomenon, totally different from Silicon Valley and yet so successful on a world stage.

“Nigel’s kindness, thoughtfulness and sense of fun will be remembered by all who knew him.”

Nigel was born on October 1, 1945, and went to school in southern England before reading medieval history at the University of St Andrews. He worked for four years in the city as a stockbroker and then insurance broker before launching NW Brown in Cambridge.

He was married to Fiona, who died in 2021, and is survived by a son, Benjamin. Nigel died peacefully on January 19.



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