One of the greats for me, and never as famous as he should have been. The last time I saw him live he was well into his eighties and the ravages of time had slowed but not diminished his talent. His approach to the microphone was laboured but if anything this added to the humour and by the time he shambled to the front of the stage I was already in hysterics. They said that about Tommy Cooper didn´t they? That he could have you in convulsions without saying a word? Well he certainly had me going that night, so much so that the couple behind me complained that I was “moving about and making too much noise”. I apologised and promised never to laugh again. That however proved impossible and although I never met him I hear he was just as whacky in “real life”.
I heard Bobby Ball on a radio interview saying that when he was new to showbiz he was partnered with Norman in a charity golf event. On the second hole he was alarmed to hear a commotion coming from the deep bunker beside the green “Bobby, Bobby.........I´m being attacked by a snake.........get help!” When Mr. Ball rushed to his aid he found him writhing about on the deck, gasping, and kicking at the sand with a hosepipe round his neck!
When I heard the news of his death I felt the same way as I did when Eric Morecambe and Les Dawson died. Although you´ve never met these people you just prefer the world with them in it.
R.I.P Norman.
