Norman Dewis. RIP 1920-2019
Discussion
It is with great sadness that I learn of the passing of dear Norman. His legacy will alway be enshrined in the history of Jaguar, He was responsible, as test driver, for developing all Jaguar models from the C-type through to the XJS, he raced the D-types for Jaguar at Le Mans, yet a more quiet unassuming gentleman it would be difficult to find. His stories are the stuff of legend, and I shall miss him so. In his later years he became an ambassador for Jaguar, touring the world and despite his age he was tireless. There are so many stories to tell, but just one was in 2016 at Prescott where on our Jaguar hill climb day he gave a talk as always. Later I sat talking to him and asked if he was staying over with us at the hotel. "No" was the reply. " I am taking my son to the hospital tomorrow, but I need to be careful these days. I only have two points left!" And this at 96! Sleep well dear friend, and enjoy your opposite-locking at that great race track in the sky. Here he is at the Festival of Speed with the prototype E2A
Edited by lowdrag on Sunday 9th June 05:23
They were collecting on his behalf I read in Octane this month for a house keeper for him.
I met him at Gaydon 2017, had my pic with him, he was just wondering about on his own, I knew who he was straight away, he asked me where I was from and he said he was half hour up the road in Whitchurch, tiny fella, huge name, legend. RIP
I met him at Gaydon 2017, had my pic with him, he was just wondering about on his own, I knew who he was straight away, he asked me where I was from and he said he was half hour up the road in Whitchurch, tiny fella, huge name, legend. RIP
Lovely man and a great loss. RIP.
Great interview and period footage of the man himself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWZr2lCXp3c
Great interview and period footage of the man himself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWZr2lCXp3c
ssed off dying at 98 years of age - One of the few times he failed to pass the ton! 
sideways man said:
Always followed his exploits, even though he retired about the same time I started driving. Seemed a true gent and bona fide hero, thanks to his WW2 exploits. Did he ever have a book written about himself?
RIP Norman
The book is called RIP Norman
Norman Dewis of Jaguar: Developing the Legend
It's a very interesting read, I only hope you can find a copy for less than the price I've just seen on Amazon.
It's a sad loss, Norman was fascinating to talk to, whether it was attending one of his many lectures or casually over cup of tea from the Nafi wagon at Goodwood.
It's hard to think of him even slowing down let alone coming to a stop.
I spoke to him in 2015 at the JEC anniversary do at Thorseby. I told him a tale about how I was 'exercising' a V12 XJ-S manual along the newly opened A34 dual carriageway around 1989/90 when I spotted a copper in a white Vauxhall Senator. I was going way too fast to slow down so had to keep the boot in and keep going.
'Did you get away'?
'Well, yes'
'Good Man'.
'Did you get away'?
'Well, yes'
'Good Man'.
sideways man said:
a8hex said:
The book is called
Norman Dewis of Jaguar: Developing the Legend
Thanks. I’ll try and find a copy. Norman Dewis of Jaguar: Developing the Legend
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sir-William-Lyons-Officia...
Another great book! I read it last month while on hols, Norman gets mentioned (as you'd expect) quite a few times.
mph said:
Lovely man and a great loss. RIP.
Great interview and period footage of the man himself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWZr2lCXp3c
What a fantastic watch. So humble and down to earth.Great interview and period footage of the man himself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWZr2lCXp3c
Bebee said:
They were collecting on his behalf I read in Octane this month for a house keeper for him.
Indeed we were. As his cancer became worse we subscribed to a fund which was set up to provide round the clock nursing for him. We were each asked to contribute £100 for his care and £30,000 was raised, a quite substantial sum but below what I would have expected given the love for him amongst the Jaguar fraternity. However, the trust was set up in a way that the residual money in the fund will now go to a children's' cancer hospice. And it is not too late to contribute should any of you feel inclined to do so.
As I've written before, Norman Dewis was with Lea-Francis before he followed Soapy Sutton to the Jaguar and he was more than happy to talk to us (Lea-Francis Owners) about his time there.
We met him on a couple of occasions not too long ago, at the NEC show and at Kop Hill Climb and at the latter he worked out that he would have tested the post-war Lea-Francis Sports that was there, but my (pre-war) car would have been tested by Sutton. He told me he went to Jaguar "not because the cars were better (they weren't), but they paid a little more!" However he did agree when I pointed out that he wouldn't have had the record-breaking and racing if he'd stayed at Lea-Francis.
I too value the few short chats I was able to have with that friendly and interesting/interested man.
We met him on a couple of occasions not too long ago, at the NEC show and at Kop Hill Climb and at the latter he worked out that he would have tested the post-war Lea-Francis Sports that was there, but my (pre-war) car would have been tested by Sutton. He told me he went to Jaguar "not because the cars were better (they weren't), but they paid a little more!" However he did agree when I pointed out that he wouldn't have had the record-breaking and racing if he'd stayed at Lea-Francis.
I too value the few short chats I was able to have with that friendly and interesting/interested man.
lowdrag said:
Bebee said:
They were collecting on his behalf I read in Octane this month for a house keeper for him.
Indeed we were. As his cancer became worse we subscribed to a fund which was set up to provide round the clock nursing for him. We were each asked to contribute £100 for his care and £30,000 was raised, a quite substantial sum but below what I would have expected given the love for him amongst the Jaguar fraternity. However, the trust was set up in a way that the residual money in the fund will now go to a children's' cancer hospice. And it is not too late to contribute should any of you feel inclined to do so.
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