Norman Dewis. RIP 1920-2019

[Bebee]

https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/sou...

[RoddersE]

RIP Norman - foot to the floor!!


Will take time for his funeral arrangements to be made of course but is anyone aware of a Jaguar/Daimler car parade being considered or organised to give Norman a fitting send off?

Would be a great way to show our respect and perhaps even raise a few more ££s for the hospice that his trust is supporting.

Rodders

[and31]

Sad news indeed.what a life well lived.

[lowdrag]

RoddersE said:

RIP Norman - foot to the floor!!


Will take time for his funeral arrangements to be made of course but is anyone aware of a Jaguar/Daimler car parade being considered or organised to give Norman a fitting send off?

Would be a great way to show our respect and perhaps even raise a few more ££s for the hospice that his trust is supporting.

Rodders

There are two thoughts here. The first is that the funeral will be a private one for the family, and the second that it might not be. However, any cortège of followers will probably be arranged by Jaguar, if it is to be thus. It is more likely that there will be a celebration of his life arranged by Jgauar later. And be prepared to pay up for his niominated charity as I mentioned above. This will not be a "look at me - I was there" event.

[Nincompoop]

Often encountered ND in Church Stretton - I live nearby -and, after very heavy rain a couple of years ago, nearly ran him over wandering down a local lane that had flooded not only itself but also his E Type.

I gave him a ride back to it, pulled it out with the Outback ("Is this the H6? Nice motors, these" - praise indeed!) and we dried out the distributor cap, gave the rest of the electrics a liberal squirt of WD40 and got him on his way. I offered to stay behind him and make sure he made it back as we made our way back down the A49 - in the event it was about all I could do: he winked at me and simply took off. I've enjoyed some pretty special motoring moments in my life; trying to keep up with Norman as he absolutely thrashed a V12 Jaguar is one I will take with me to my own grave. RIP, old chap.

[and31]

Nincompoop said:

Often encountered ND in Church Stretton - I live nearby -and, after very heavy rain a couple of years ago, nearly ran him over wandering down a local lane that had flooded not only itself but also his E Type.

I gave him a ride back to it, pulled it out with the Outback ("Is this the H6? Nice motors, these" - praise indeed!) and we dried out the distributor cap, gave the rest of the electrics a liberal squirt of WD40 and got him on his way. I offered to stay behind him and make sure he made it back as we made our way back down the A49 - in the event it was about all I could do: he winked at me and simply took off. I've enjoyed some pretty special motoring moments in my life; trying to keep up with Norman as he absolutely thrashed a V12 Jaguar is one I will take with me to my own grave. RIP, old chap.

Brilliant!!!
I love stories like this-as you say,something you will remember for ever!!
What a legend that man was

[Bebee]

and31 said:

Nincompoop said:

Often encountered ND in Church Stretton - I live nearby -and, after very heavy rain a couple of years ago, nearly ran him over wandering down a local lane that had flooded not only itself but also his E Type.

I gave him a ride back to it, pulled it out with the Outback ("Is this the H6? Nice motors, these" - praise indeed!) and we dried out the distributor cap, gave the rest of the electrics a liberal squirt of WD40 and got him on his way. I offered to stay behind him and make sure he made it back as we made our way back down the A49 - in the event it was about all I could do: he winked at me and simply took off. I've enjoyed some pretty special motoring moments in my life; trying to keep up with Norman as he absolutely thrashed a V12 Jaguar is one I will take with me to my own grave. RIP, old chap.

Brilliant!!!
I love stories like this-as you say,something you will remember for ever!!
What a legend that man was

+1

[lowdrag]

I shed a little tear today. I got out his biography to read once again and I had forgotten that he had autographed it for me. So, about 560 pages to go
.

[Nincompoop]

Thanks chaps. Watching Norman pull away despite mashing my throttle pedal to the floor was a view that I take great pleasure in having shared with many drivers, all of them better men than I.

Lowdrag, I have long coveted a copy of Skilleter's book, but still can't justify the outlay. Enjoy.

[Peter3442]

The biography written with Paul Skilleter is possibly the best biography that I've ever read. It's an excellent work and worth buying. If you don't want to pay for a new one, then try Abebooks or Oxfam for secondhand or a bookseller like Blackwells that offer discount.

[Nincompoop]

Thank you, Peter. I used to work in the antiquarian trade, and I have searches saved on a number of sites in the hope of coming across one at a reasonable cost.

Skilleter's own site offers a Sixth Reprint edition at £75, whereas Abebooks are currently showing three copies, ranging from £225 to £3,965 (plus postage!)

I shall persevere.

[Peter3442]

Apologies. I didn't mean to try and teach you things that you know better than me. I'd really never imagined those prices!

We'd best think of them as a tribute to Norman.

[a8hex]

I can't help thinking the price of some of the second hand copies has probably jump up massively as sellers profit from Norman's demise.
Hopefully the prices will come back down to more sensible numbers soon.
I can't remember what I paid for it when it came out, I bought my copy at a Jaguar event where Norman was signing them and chatting away as ever.

[Nincompoop]

Peter3442 said:

Apologies. I didn't mean to try and teach you things that you know better than me. I'd really never imagined those prices!

We'd best think of them as a tribute to Norman.

None taken, Peter - it was very thoughtful of you to have helped.