Torquil Norman
Encyclopedia
Sir
Torquil Patrick Alexander Norman CBE
(born 1933) is a British
businessman, aircraft enthusiast, and arts philanthropist.
, he stands 6' 7". Torquil gained his pilot’s licence at eighteen, did National Service
in the Fleet Air Arm
and when he left bought a Piper Comanche, flew in No. 601 Squadron RAF
, and took up skydiving, a passion shared by his wife Anne.
After working as an investment banker in the United States
for eleven years, he returned to the UK in the 1960s and subsequently entered the toymaking industry, first as chief executive of Berwick Timpo toy company from 1973, and then in 1980 founding Bluebird Toys, makers of the Big Yellow Teapot House, the Big Red Fun Bus, and the very successful Polly Pocket
line of dolls.
A long-term Camden
resident, he bought the derelict Roundhouse arts venue in Chalk Farm
for £3 million in 1996 "as an impulse buy", having read it was proposed to turn it into an architectural museum. As founder and chairman of the Roundhouse Trust he then raised £27 million from public and private sources, including almost £4 million more of his own personal funds, to restore the crumbling Victorian former railway repair shed, which had been a major arts venue in the 1960s and '70s.
The restored venue reopened in June 2006 as a 1,700 seat performance space, with a state-of-the-art creative centre for young people in the undercroft, and a new wing with a purpose-built bar and café. It was soon the base for a major season by the Royal Shakespeare Company
, played host to regular big-name rock concerts, and by 2008 had involved over 12,000 teenagers in creative arts projects.
Sir Torquil, who had previously received a CBE
, stepped down as chairman of the Roundhouse Trust in 2007, and was knighted the same year for his "services to the arts and to disadvantaged young people". In 2007 he won the prestigious Beacon Fellowship Prize for his work with young people through the Roundhouse Trust.
A collector of classic aeroplanes, he wrote a vivid account of flying a DH Leopard Moth across the Atlantic. In 1995 Torquil Norman & Henry Labouchere undertook a long distance flight in a light aircraft, culminating in their East-West trans-Atlantic flight in a (then) 59 year old de Havilland
Dragonfly
. Earning both a Certificate of Merit award from the Royal Aero Club
.
He has five children and ten grandchildren. His brother was Desmond Norman
, co-founder of Britten Norman aircraft.
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
Torquil Patrick Alexander Norman CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
(born 1933) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
businessman, aircraft enthusiast, and arts philanthropist.
Life
An Old Etonian, graduate of Harvard and Trinity College, CambridgeTrinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, he stands 6' 7". Torquil gained his pilot’s licence at eighteen, did National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
in the Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
and when he left bought a Piper Comanche, flew in No. 601 Squadron RAF
No. 601 Squadron RAF
No. 601 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, based in London. The squadron battle honours most notably include the Battle of Britain and the first Americans to fly in World War II were members of this squadron.-History:...
, and took up skydiving, a passion shared by his wife Anne.
After working as an investment banker in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for eleven years, he returned to the UK in the 1960s and subsequently entered the toymaking industry, first as chief executive of Berwick Timpo toy company from 1973, and then in 1980 founding Bluebird Toys, makers of the Big Yellow Teapot House, the Big Red Fun Bus, and the very successful Polly Pocket
Polly Pocket
Polly Pocket is a toy line of dolls and accessories. The name comes from the fact that many of the original Polly Pocket dolls came in pocket-size cases. The current Fashion Polly dolls sold by Mattel differ significantly from those originally sold by Bluebird Toys. The original Bluebird dolls...
line of dolls.
A long-term Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
resident, he bought the derelict Roundhouse arts venue in Chalk Farm
Chalk Farm
Chalk Farm is an area of north London, England. It lies directly to the north of Camden Town and its underground station is the closest tube station to the nearby, upmarket neighbourhood of Primrose Hill....
for £3 million in 1996 "as an impulse buy", having read it was proposed to turn it into an architectural museum. As founder and chairman of the Roundhouse Trust he then raised £27 million from public and private sources, including almost £4 million more of his own personal funds, to restore the crumbling Victorian former railway repair shed, which had been a major arts venue in the 1960s and '70s.
The restored venue reopened in June 2006 as a 1,700 seat performance space, with a state-of-the-art creative centre for young people in the undercroft, and a new wing with a purpose-built bar and café. It was soon the base for a major season by the Royal Shakespeare Company
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
, played host to regular big-name rock concerts, and by 2008 had involved over 12,000 teenagers in creative arts projects.
Sir Torquil, who had previously received a CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, stepped down as chairman of the Roundhouse Trust in 2007, and was knighted the same year for his "services to the arts and to disadvantaged young people". In 2007 he won the prestigious Beacon Fellowship Prize for his work with young people through the Roundhouse Trust.
A collector of classic aeroplanes, he wrote a vivid account of flying a DH Leopard Moth across the Atlantic. In 1995 Torquil Norman & Henry Labouchere undertook a long distance flight in a light aircraft, culminating in their East-West trans-Atlantic flight in a (then) 59 year old de Havilland
De Havilland
The de Havilland Aircraft Company was a British aviation manufacturer founded in 1920 when Airco, of which Geoffrey de Havilland had been chief designer, was sold to BSA by the owner George Holt Thomas. De Havilland then set up a company under his name in September of that year at Stag Lane...
Dragonfly
De Havilland Dragonfly
-References:*The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft . London: Orbis Publishing.*Hayes, P & King, B. de Havilland biplane transports. Coulsden: Gatwick Aviation Society ISBN 0 95304132 8...
. Earning both a Certificate of Merit award from the Royal Aero Club
Royal Aero Club
The Royal Aero Club is the national co-ordinating body for Air Sport in the United Kingdom.The Aero Club was founded in 1901 by Frank Hedges Butler, his daughter Vera and the Hon Charles Rolls , partly inspired by the Aero Club of France...
.
He has five children and ten grandchildren. His brother was Desmond Norman
Desmond Norman
Nigel Desmond Norman aircraft designer: born London 13 August 1929; co-founded Britten-Norman 1954; CBE 1970; chairman and managing director, AeroNorTec 1988-2002; married 1956 Anne Fogg Elliot , 1965 Boel Holmsen ; died of a heart attack on Basingstoke railway station, Hampshire 13 November 2002...
, co-founder of Britten Norman aircraft.
Quote
- "The way this country is at the moment for young people is disgraceful. My generation has pretty much betrayed them."
- "I can’t understand the logic of consigning all the people who are no good at exams to the dustheap. What we’ve created is a fantastic problem in society."
- "I don't want to rearrange the deck chairs. I want to redesign the ship."
External links
- A. Alvarez, The Last Buccaneer, New YorkerThe New YorkerThe New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, 15 October 1990, p. 49 - Winner's Biography: Sir Torquil Norman, The Beacon Fellowship, 2007.