Nomad

[dizzy_1]

Deepest Sympathies

[fatlad]

  RIP Nomad

[Totot]

I am sorry for your lost, my condolences for you and your family.
And thank you so much Nomad for all things you have done, highly appreciated.

[toscozombie]

So sorry for your loss my condolences to you and your family .
This site has helped me on a couple of occasions and I have always found it well run and informative . My thoughts are with you all .

[lordadmiral]

My condolences.

[penguin]

My condolences to all those who knew Nomad, the hard work he put into providing and running VLH over the years was very much appreciated by so many.

[lucgeo]

Have just read the tribute to our beloved Nomad, in "The Grocer"
A lovely obituary written by Ian Quinn. 

[Spidercatcher]

Oh my goodness! Am really sorry to hear about this. Sincere condolences to you and all your family on the loss of your dear father. This site has been a great refuge for many of us to air our grievances over the years. Thoughts are with you, seriously. Bless you all. xxx 

[The Guvnor]

For anyone who is interested in the article written by Ian Quinn in The Grocer, to save a bit of time, I have copied it over to here. It is a lovely tribute to Nomad. Thanks Ian

Obituary for VeryLittleHelps.com founder Nomad, a thorn in Tesco's side since 2008
By Ian Quinn 23 August 2023
 

In 2008 a mural by the legendary street artist Banksy appeared on the side of a pharmacy in North London.

It depicted a group of children below a flagpole. Instead of raising a flag, they paid homage to a Tesco bag with its famous Tesco blue logo printed on the side.

The piece was tagged 'Very Little Helps' and has been interpreted as reflecting Banksy's disapproval of Tesco's dominance on the high street and its impact on "the little guy".

In the same year, a website for Tesco staff launched under the same ironic title. While Banksy has gone on to become a cult figure, currently being celebrated by a sellout exhibition in Glasgow, VeryLittleHelps.com became a frequently used forum not just for thousands of Tesco staff but for national journalists, retail experts and, whether they like to admit it or not, Tesco management and PR teams eager to find out the latest rants from the frontline.

Then this week came news that the anonymous founder of the site, known to users simply as Nomad, had died.

"It is with great sadness that I have to announce that Nomad (Dad, Eddie) passed away on August 11th 2023, at the age of 76!" wrote his son (Littlenomad).

"VLH had been his little project for many years (since 2008). In due course I will decide what to do with the site, for now I will stop accepting new donations," wrote Littlenomad.

The news has saddened staff who follow the site, many of them describing Very Little Helps as a community which allowed them a voice, in a different way to other staff groups or unions.

Allowed a community a voice in a different way
Since its inception, the site has been something of a Tesco WikiLeaks, the source of numerous revelations surrounding forthcoming management shake-ups, store closures and disputes over pay, as well as many, seemingly more trivial, employment issues.

Its concoction of keyboard warriors with usernames taken from Game of Thrones characters conjured images of lonely nights in bedsits after a hard shift at the DC. It was comic, but at the same time got to the heart of shopworkers' everyday concerns.

Sometimes a vehicle for staff with an axe to grind, looking for a forum in which to vent their anger, Very Little Helps was also the source for a number of important grocery stories over the years. Whilst it is unlikely to admit it publicly, it was a thorn in the side of the supermarket on the occasions when its handling of major staffing issues, in particular, could have been better communicated.

You will be missed by us all
On the news of Nomad's passing, one user posted: "This site has been a vital source of knowledge, reassurance and camaraderie for many over the years.

"We are all grateful for the hard work of your father to create this uniquely safe environment. People have felt able to discuss sometimes highly personal or controversial situations securely without fear of work-related consequences – an opportunity not available anywhere else."

Another regular poster said: "I am so so sorry for your loss. Eddie – a beautiful kind generous soul. Always been kind to me personally. It is through him and his dedication in helping others that enabled us all over many years to come together. Eddie... thank you my friend. You will be missed by us all."

As Tesco frequently used to point out, VLH only represented the views of the minority of its staff who used the site, not to mention all the hangers-on that followed the gossip and didn't even work for Tesco. But Nomad was also quick to point out if users posting on the site had overstepped the mark by allowing their grievances to go too far.

So as decisions are made about the future of the site, many this week will have their imaginary Very Little Helps flag flying at half-mast.

[dfl]

So sorry to hear this, deepest sympathies to you and your family

[Adywebb]

Very sad news, my sincerest condolences to you and all the family

[OvaSees]

My deepest symnpathies to you and your family. Nomad was not only a source of inspriation for many - evidenced by the success of this place - but also a font of knowledge and a refreshing voice of common sense in an increasingly topsy-turvy world.

[amex]

So sorry to hear this, I retired 2 years ago after working in superstore and express.  This site was often the source of needed info, when employees were sometimes the last to know. Here's hoping someone can take over and keep it going.

[crabbit]

Don't come on here much as I've left Tesco but still remember the kindness shown to me by Nomad and others here during hard times at Tesco.
He was grateful too for the time and effort I offered as a Moderator for a short time even made me a member for life, never did get to thank him in person(though he did offer to treat me to a cream tea when I was on holiday in Devon).
I offer thanks for the help and kindness shown by Eddie and for the foresight to start VLH and we all now that has helped thousands of Tesco staff to be able to defend themselves at work.
I also offer my condolences to his family and friends on their personal loss.

Goodbye my friend.

[bushido]

My deepest sympathies for your family.
You can be so proud of what he built here and the help and guidance he managed to give to so many.
I was proud to have been a moderator in the earlier days and like crabbit, was thankful for the kindness shown by Nomad.

He will be sorely missed.

Rest now pal.

[Pochin123]

This website is a godsend for colleagues of the business. So sorry for your loss.

[Billy Budd]

Truly sorry for your loss pal ~ 

[trigger]

condolences i was fortunate enough to meet your dad once in a pub south of manchester im sure i bought him half a lager.

[trigger]

Don't come on here much as I've left Tesco but still remember the kindness shown to me by Nomad and others here during hard times at Tesco.
He was grateful too for the time and effort I offered as a Moderator for a short time even made me a member for life, never did get to thank him in person(though he did offer to treat me to a cream tea when I was on holiday in Devon).
I offer thanks for the help and kindness shown by Eddie and for the foresight to start VLH and we all now that has helped thousands of Tesco staff to be able to defend themselves at work.
I also offer my condolences to his family and friends on their personal loss.

Goodbye my friend.

couldnt have siad it better mate

[helpme]

Condolences to you and your family at such a sad time. Like many I'm also now an ex colleague of Tescos but when I was employed by them there were occasions where information provided by him helped not only me but also others from being hung out to dry by management.
 

[btblackbird]

Sincere condolences to you and all your family, VLH has helped so many. RIP Nomad

[tescopleb]

Sincerest condolences to Nomads family.As many have said VLH has made a huge difference many people. RIP Nomad.

[Raven]

My condolences to you and your family.

[londoner83]

Sorry for your loss.

You should be really proud of your dad's achievements in establishing this site and of the thousands of colleagues who benefited from his advice.

[Faceandgo]

So sad to hear of your loss. Like so many I'm now ex-Tesco but whilst I was there, this site offered so much in support and information that you just couldn't get directly from the company.  I was  briefly a moderator and then administrator ( lured by Nomad's promise of soft toilet paper in the executive toilets)   I met Eddie on a number of occasions. My thoughts go out to Anne and her family.