In memory of Norman - an inspiration to others

Though principally a swimmer, Norman was in at the deep end of many other recreational activities and was widely credited with helping bring the 2002 Commonwealth Games to Manchester.

"He was a great guy, a tremendous speaker and someone able to inspire others," recalls former Amateur Swimming Association president Eric Wilkinson, now in Middleton-in-Teesdale.

We'd last written about Norman in December 2000, when pursuing the family link between Velez Sarsfield - the Argentinian football club from whom Newcastle signed Christian Bassedas for £3.5m - and the Sarsfields of Durham.

There was one, of course. "As long as you don't want my fingerprints, I'll help you in any way I can," Norman said at the time.

He was 80 then, almost blind and using a white stick, but had celebrated the landmark birthday with gusto - "singing and dancing like a man half his age," it was reported.

Norman was born in Durham, was city swimming club champion for 16 years and had won the MC during World War II as a major with the Durham Light Infantry and became a teacher in Gateshead.

After the war, he helped organise The Northern Echo's annual five-mile race from Stockton to Middlesbrough, switched to Durham in 1948 because of the Tees pollution.

"Pollution or not, it was never quite the same," he'd mused.

His city council service, it was reckoned, was inspired by the chairman of the swimming baths committee, who was restricting the club's access to the pool.

"In a couple of years I'm going to have your job," declared an aggrieved Norman. He stood, won, duly became chairman of the baths committee and was mayor from 1964-65.

By that time he was also an international figure in swimming as judge, coach, author, administrator and team manager. Manager of England's 1962 Commonwealth Games team in Perth, his duties had included a mile and a half walk at 5.30 each morning to wake Anita Lonsbrough in time for training.

"Our swimmers are notoriously bad in the morning," he said.

Forever grateful, Lonsbrough was at the mayor making in Durham and will attend today's commemoration with her husband Hugh Porter, the former world cycling champion.

In 1968, Norman managed Britain's Mexico Olympics squad, including 16-year-old butterfly swimmer Margaret Auton from Hartlepool - whatever happened to her? - and in 1970 became the ASA's first full-time secretary.

The salary, it was eagerly reported, would be "not less than £3,000."

Norman moved the ASA and his family to Loughborough - his wife Marjorie had been a leading member of Durham and Chester-le-Street amateur operatic societies - then set about modernising a sport which for years had been treading water.

"He was widely regarded as the architect of modern swimming," says Eric Wilkinson. "He devoted his life to the sport with great drive, vision and vigour."

Until increasing eyesight problems forced his retirement, Norman was chairman of the Commonwealth Games Council for England and had been a vice-chairman of Sport Aid and the Central Council for Physical recreation.

He had been awarded the OBE and an honorary doctorate from Loughborough University, was secretary of the European Swimming Federation for 20 years, held many positions in the North-East and still swam half a mile a day until shortly before his death in August.

At his insistence, there were neither black ties nor long faces at his funeral. Today's event in Loughborough, at which the Commonwealth secretary-general will pay tribute, is expected to be every bit as buoyant.

Christian Bassedas, who still sounds like a bath salts manufacturer, may not have been among the Magpies' more inspired buys.

Signed in October 2000, the midfielder made 22 Premiership appearances in his first season, scoring once, and just two in his second. Thereafter he spent much of his time on loan to Tenerife before heading homeward this summer "by mutual consent".

"In certain ways I was sorry to see him go," said Sir Bobby, diplomatically. Bassedas is now back in Argentina with Newell's Old Boys. Who's this feller Newell?

Wearing his serious hat, a garment rarely out of the box, Spennymoor Boxing Academy secretary Paul Hodgson rang yesterday to report the sudden death of Royce Carson, committee man and club MC.

Royce, a man of irrepressible good humour, died at his home near Crook on Saturday. "He'd been over here for team pictures on Friday night, smiling all over his face as usual," says Hodgy.

"Heaven must be needing a good master of ceremonies. They've taken the best there was."

Eight or nine years after the saga began, two years since Bishop Auckland FC moved from their famous Kingsway home, the ground - in which they have a shared interest with the town's cricket club - remains unsold.

The position is complex, and getting knottier. Until a deal is completed, the football club seems to have no chance of developing the proposed 10,000 capacity stadium at Tindale Crescent.

In the light of recent developments, the cricket club has called an extraordinary general meeting on December 15 (7.30) with just one item on the agenda - "to resolve the land sale."

Cricket club chairman Keith Hopper is anxious to move forward. "It's a meeting that's essential for the well-being of both clubs," he says. "It's essential as many members as possible attend."

Friday's piece on Catterick racecourse mentioned that at Sedgefield - "like shopping at Harrod's," someone said - a pint of beer was £2 80. While not exactly the Christmas sales, Sedgefield general manager Jim Allen points out that it's £2.50, the same as Catterick.

Johnson won it for his mum

Lauded through London, Martin Johnson's home thoughts may yesterday have turned to his amazing mother, who died just over a year ago, aged 57.

A Daily Mail spread based on the England World Cup captain's autobiography summed it up on Saturday: "I won it for my mum."

Mum, as Mary Everett in Darlington writes by way of reminder, was Hilary Cleminson when they were in the same Darlington High School class together from 1956-61. John, Hilary's brother, still lives in the town.

Hilary's grandfather, a cabinet maker in Bishop Auckland, won England amateur soccer caps but died at 45 while running to catch a train. Her father died at 53, and John is 45 not out, while scampering between the wickets for Cockerton.

Hilary had run since early days with Darlington Harriers and at 46 became the oldest athlete to win an English open age vest when chosen for a 100k event in Italy.

Though dogged by family coronary problems - "when they said I needed a new heart, I said I'd have Seb Coe's" she once told the column - she died from pancreatic cancer.

She'd met her husband David at Liverpool University. "My dad fell in love with her and Bill Shankly's great Reds at the same time," recalls Martin in the book.

A proud and fiercely competitive mother - Martin was eating Weetabix at four weeks, she'd recalled - she turned up for the parents' race at school in shorts and vest and warmed up properly beforehand.

"I was proud of her but a bit embarrassed," says Martin.

Hilary was forbidden to watch her sons play rugby on medical advice.

"I couldn't stand a full game without getting excited and falling about," she said. Her ashes are scattered in her beloved Yorkshire dales.

The Rugby World Cup final, incidentally, has been voted Britain's top television moment of 2003 by 640,000 viewers.

The award, according to both Teletext and the BBC News website, was presented on Saturday nig ht to England and Hartlepool prop Jason Leonard. "I wonder what they make of that in Hartlepool?" muses sharp-eyed Tony Metcalf, in Darlington.

He might wonder what they make of it at Harlequins, too.

...and finally

The only player to win an FA Cup medal with both North London clubs (Backtrack, December 5) was, of course, Pat Jennings.

Readers are today invited to name the English international who managed Manchester City for just 33 days in 1996. Without need of management course, the column returns on Friday.

Published: 09/12/2003