Sir Norman Wisdom
1915 - 2010
Many apologies for not updating this site earlier - I just could not face doing it before now.
Strangely, Norman’s death was announced just while I was preparing a lecture on the great man which I had to give the following day. Before that, it was a quick round of the studios starting with a 7 a.m. Call on the Today programme - the first of seven radio/television tributes I recorded that day, most of which went out live.
It was good to find that the British media treated his passing with the respect he deserved, with heart-felt eulogies from every corner.
Then it was off to the Isle of Man for the funeral. A very moving affair with Norman’s coffin drawn through the street of Douglas in a fine horse-drawn hearse, the lines of people clapping respectfully as it passed. The funeral itself was at St George’s Church with terrific addresses from both Norman’s son Nicholas and from Norman’s friend and agent Johnny Mans. The proceedings were broadcast live on Manx Radio. At the Sefton Hotel reception before and after, I had the pleasure of chatting to Nicholas & Kim as well as spend some time with Todd Carty, a genuine admirer and friend of Norman’s who had undertaken a day-trip to the Island especially to be there.
Some of the television reports following Norman’s death can be viewed on Mark Kipling’s excellent site.
Tributes to Norman’s life of comedy continue. On February 13 there will be an official Memorial show at the Leicester Comedy Festival; the UK Heritage Foundation will be unveiling a plaque on Norman’s childhood home at 91 Fernhead Road on March 6, 2011; and there is talk of a major Memorial service in London on or around February 4 what would have been Norman’s 96th birthday.
As for myself, I am currently writing an essay on Norman which is to be included in a book about British Comedy to be published by Routledge next year. It will give me the opportunity to watch his work all over again and remember the many happy hours and days I spent in Norman’s company
Strangely, Norman’s death was announced just while I was preparing a lecture on the great man which I had to give the following day. Before that, it was a quick round of the studios starting with a 7 a.m. Call on the Today programme -
It was good to find that the British media treated his passing with the respect he deserved, with heart-
Then it was off to the Isle of Man for the funeral. A very moving affair with Norman’s coffin drawn through the street of Douglas in a fine horse-
Some of the television reports following Norman’s death can be viewed on Mark Kipling’s excellent site.
Tributes to Norman’s life of comedy continue. On February 13 there will be an official Memorial show at the Leicester Comedy Festival; the UK Heritage Foundation will be unveiling a plaque on Norman’s childhood home at 91 Fernhead Road on March 6, 2011; and there is talk of a major Memorial service in London on or around February 4 what would have been Norman’s 96th birthday.
As for myself, I am currently writing an essay on Norman which is to be included in a book about British Comedy to be published by Routledge next year. It will give me the opportunity to watch his work all over again and remember the many happy hours and days I spent in Norman’s company
