Some Thoughts about "Our Norm."
B207_180110.
SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT “OUR NORM.”
We came to Widford in 1975, and as we settled into our new home with our two small children, we came to know the people in the village. Amongst them was a strong personality, a very keen gardener, who was constantly seen around the place and in the shop, chatting to passers by and active in village gatherings. He was certainly not of a retiring nature, and organized gardening club meetings and shows. He had a friendly open approach, and was popular with children and adults alike. Not so long ago he was talking to me about his plans for the future; there had been some suggestion, that he might leave Widford and go to live close to his relatives in Much Hadham, but in the end he had decided to stay in the village where he had dwelt so long. It was a sadness to hear of his illness, and later to read in the parish magazine that he would be moving to Much Hadham, and one could only surmise that he needed to be near his family, for health reasons. It was still a shock on a Sunday earlier this month to learn that he had died just after Christmas. The date of the Funeral at Harlow, 12 / 01 / 2010, was marked in our diaries and we duly attended - along with roughly 100 others, many of his large family and a goodly crowd of neighbours and friends from the Hadhams and Widford. The service comprised two pop songs, one at the start by Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” at the end; and also eight verses of “All things bright and beautiful,” which might have been written with him in mind, with his love of plants, flowers and trees. Afterwards there was a reception at the village hall and even more people who had not been at the service came along.
The Rev. Chris Boulton from Little Hadham, had worked hard on the account of Norman’s life, and it was a memorable result. Norm had been the head gardener at the Lordship in Much Hadham. Once the then Prime Minister, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, was a guest, who went round the garden, dead-heading flowers as he passed, which he then left lying on the ground. Politely, but firmly, Norm broached the issue of picking up the results. It was taken in good part. Later Norman had become the school caretaker at Much Hadham for 26 years, and could be seen cycling to and from work what ever the weather. He had also been a great favourite with the children, continuing to visit after his retirement Other activities in his retirement included writing articles about the village and people he had known and poetry. Part of one of his poems was read out at the funeral and his skills and knowledge of natural history were recalled. Our family memories will inevitably centre around his involvement with the village pantomimes from 1987. His particular skill being not to stay with the written script (even if written by himself) and to launch into his own version rendering his fellow actors literally speechless. In short Norm’s very real friendliness and charm had brightened life for so many people over the years.
Michael B. Buck.
SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT “OUR NORM.”
We came to Widford in 1975, and as we settled into our new home with our two small children, we came to know the people in the village. Amongst them was a strong personality, a very keen gardener, who was constantly seen around the place and in the shop, chatting to passers by and active in village gatherings. He was certainly not of a retiring nature, and organized gardening club meetings and shows. He had a friendly open approach, and was popular with children and adults alike. Not so long ago he was talking to me about his plans for the future; there had been some suggestion, that he might leave Widford and go to live close to his relatives in Much Hadham, but in the end he had decided to stay in the village where he had dwelt so long. It was a sadness to hear of his illness, and later to read in the parish magazine that he would be moving to Much Hadham, and one could only surmise that he needed to be near his family, for health reasons. It was still a shock on a Sunday earlier this month to learn that he had died just after Christmas. The date of the Funeral at Harlow, 12 / 01 / 2010, was marked in our diaries and we duly attended - along with roughly 100 others, many of his large family and a goodly crowd of neighbours and friends from the Hadhams and Widford. The service comprised two pop songs, one at the start by Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” at the end; and also eight verses of “All things bright and beautiful,” which might have been written with him in mind, with his love of plants, flowers and trees. Afterwards there was a reception at the village hall and even more people who had not been at the service came along.
The Rev. Chris Boulton from Little Hadham, had worked hard on the account of Norman’s life, and it was a memorable result. Norm had been the head gardener at the Lordship in Much Hadham. Once the then Prime Minister, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, was a guest, who went round the garden, dead-heading flowers as he passed, which he then left lying on the ground. Politely, but firmly, Norm broached the issue of picking up the results. It was taken in good part. Later Norman had become the school caretaker at Much Hadham for 26 years, and could be seen cycling to and from work what ever the weather. He had also been a great favourite with the children, continuing to visit after his retirement Other activities in his retirement included writing articles about the village and people he had known and poetry. Part of one of his poems was read out at the funeral and his skills and knowledge of natural history were recalled. Our family memories will inevitably centre around his involvement with the village pantomimes from 1987. His particular skill being not to stay with the written script (even if written by himself) and to launch into his own version rendering his fellow actors literally speechless. In short Norm’s very real friendliness and charm had brightened life for so many people over the years.
Michael B. Buck.
posted by Michael Buck at 2:44 AM
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