Nigel Geoffrey Ackerman (1964-68) died peacefully at home in Wicken Bonhunt, Saffron
Walden on May 5th 2026 aged 75 after a long battle against pulmonary fibrosis. He leaves a wife
of almost 55 years Penny, two sons Nicholas and Neville, and six grandchildren. His funeral
was held at St. Mary’s church, Saffron Walden on May 21st and attended by a huge
congregation of nearly five hundred people. A memorial event is planned in the City of
London later this year.

Nigel arrived at the Nautical College in the Winter term of 1964 from St. Piran’s prep school,
Maidenhead, the son of a Major in the British Indian Army. His brother Christopher (1966-68),
18 months his junior, followed him to the NCP. A member of Harbinger Division, Nigel went
on to win his Colours as a solid middle order batsman in the 1968 cricket 1st XI, being
praised in The Log for the “determination and concentration” of his batting and fielding. He
also represented the College at shooting 1965-68, the start of a lifelong passion and squash
1966-68.

His son Nick writes: “Aged 19, shortly after leaving Pangbourne, Nigel elected not to go to
university. Instead, he began his working life as a trainee broker at Merrill Lynch in Mayfair.
It was the beginning of what would become a remarkable journey in the financial world.
Ambitious, energetic, sharp-minded, and utterly at home in the fast pace and intensity of
trading floors and markets, he flourished. It was also at Merrill’s that he met Penny who he
would marry in May 1971 aged 20.

Despite showing great promise, Merrill Lynch was not prepared to let Nigel trade at such a
young age. So he moved to another American Firm, Bache, where he traded coffee, sugar,
cocoa and oil. In 1982 he made the move from commodities to financial markets with the
opening of the London International Financial Futures Exchange (LIFFE). He quickly
established himself as one of the main players in the UK interest rate derivatives market,
known as "short sterling", and remained there until his trading pit closed 16 years later.
During this time, he rose to become chairman of the floor committee, the most trusted go-
between with the bureaucratic LIFFE exchange board, ensuring that the interests of floor
traders were represented and protected.

In an age before computers and electronic trading, the best traders were those who could
think quickly on their feet and excelled at mental arithmetic. Nigel was undoubtedly in this
category. Feted by his contemporaries, his reputation is summed up by a passage in the book
Day One Trader written by John Sussex, one of his trading peers:

“In the early days (of LIFFE), he assumed the role of elder statesman of the floor. He had a
natural presence there, having already honed his skills in the commodity markets. While
many would try to copy him, few would succeed. He had an exceptionally quick and
analytical mind which enabled him to take advantage of movements in extreme conditions,
and to trade complex strategies that he knew better than everyone else. He (also) had an
intuitive understanding of value and was never scared to trade in large sizes.” 

Eventually, however, with the technological advance of electronic screen trading, the age of
floor trading ended in 1998. Nigel would cease active trading shortly after at the age of 50
and go on to enjoy his early retirement golfing and shooting in the Saffron Walden area, and
holidaying in Spain and Barbados.

Throughout his life Nigel remained a keen sportsman, playing cricket for three different
teams before settling on Great Abington in 1981 where he would eventually become the
club’s Life President. In his later years he became an avid lover of dogs, ostensibly to assist
him in the field whilst shooting. But, in reality, his labradors were always more pets than
gundogs. He also enjoyed reconnecting with OPs and the annual OP golf day was always
keenly anticipated.

On Nigel’s death, adds Robin Knight (1956-61), hundreds of former colleagues, rivals and
friends in the City of London posted heartfelt testimonials on LinkedIn “in memory of a
legend” as one put it:
“What a man! Just so dry and witty at all times.” “A star in all the markets he traded in.”
“Respected by the whole LIFFE community for his integrity and legendary, unique skills as a
trader.” “Brutally observant, (with) “a mind sharper than a steel trap.” “A brain like a
computer.” “One of the best traders ever.” “He had the shortest, strongest golf swing I ever
saw – and the quickest wit.” “One of the funniest people I have ever met.”