Norman Dewis OBE Trust appeal
Jaguar's former chief test driver needs a bit of a hand
Living legend is an over-used expression, one that few people really deserve the application of. But Norman Dewis is definitely an exception. Jaguar’s former chief development engineer worked throughout the company’s golden era and was a vital part of the team that developed the brand’s most successful cars. He retired as long ago as 1985 – he will be 99 in August – and has spent more than 30 years working as an unofficial ambassador for the Jaguar brand, regularly attending events and giving talks.
Although Norman still lives by himself in Shropshire, he’s not in the best of health at the moment, and some of his friends in the wider Jaguar world have launched a trust fund to help him continue to live independently. One we’d warmly encourage you to bung a few quid towards.
It’s hard to condense Norman’s career highlights into a couple of paragraphs. He started in the car industry at the ripe old age of 14, working for Humber cars as the company’s factory was directly opposite his grandparent’s house in Coventry. He served in the RAF during the Second World War, as an air gunner in Blenheim bombers, but was discharged in 1943 with a kidney problem. He the worked for Armstrong-Siddeley and Lea Francis before being poached by Jaguar’s Director of Engineering, Bill Hayes, to become the chief development driver. He knew Sir William Lyons well, and worked closely with him.
Test driving was an adventurous occupation in those days. Norman worked on the development of the first ever disc brake, which was tested in a C-Type entered into the 1952 Mille Miglia. Sterling Moss agreed to drive the car, but only if Norman would be his co-driver. Norman was also the driver who set several speed records on a closed stretch of Belgian Autoroute near Jabbeke, including 172.4mph in a modified XK120. He also witnessed the 1955 Le Mans crash from the pitlane, having been drafted in as a works driver in Jaguar’s third D-Type. He famously survived an enormous crash that destroyed the prototype XJ13 and reckons that he did more than a quarter of a million miles at over 100mph on the banked circuit at MIRA. He recently admitted that he turned down Enzo Ferrari when the Italian offered him a job in 1954.
The Norman Dewis OBE Trust is being managed by JLR Classic’s Tony O’ Keeffe and John Butterworth of the Jaguar Drivers Club Lancashire. Norman has asked that any surplus left in the fund once he no longer needs it be donated to the Hope House Hospice, a charity that looks after terminally ill children.
You can find the gofundme here, or contact Tony directly for details of how to donate.
I also like that in the event of a surplus, it's clear where the money is going. I remember Hope House opening, and shortly after one of our scout troop and pupil from my school spent his last days there. So a worthy cause.
After bumping into Andy Rouse (a hero of mine from BTCC days when he drove a Cosworth) who proved that ‘Never meet your heroes’ is a phrase that doesn’t always hold true, and was engaging and a total gentleman, I turned around and quite literally bumped into Norman Dewis
He had just finished entertaining a throng of admirers who hung on his every word
And yet.
He chatted with me like I was a life-long friend and recanted anecdotes that he must have told thousands of times yet did so as if it were the very first time.
It’s shameful that this country throws £millions at ‘migrants’ and illegal immigrants yet can’t look after such heroes who have contributed so much to the fabric and history of this country...
And by 'migrants' do you mean people who've lived here forever or should you not have used the inverted commas because you mean people who came here to live, work, pay tax and contribute to society?
Perhaps instead of using this story as a soapbox for bigotry you could just give his friends some money?
And by 'migrants' do you mean people who've lived here forever or should you not have used the inverted commas because you mean people who came here to live, work, pay tax and contribute to society?
Perhaps instead of using this story as a soapbox for bigotry you could just give his friends some money?
It’s shameful that this country throws £millions at ‘migrants’ and illegal immigrants yet can’t look after such heroes who have contributed so much to the fabric and history of this country...
[/quote]
Bravely said in view of the fact that we have limited free speech these days, with an ear-wigging busy-body round every corner & reading this one dare not expound on such views.
We shall never see the likes of Norman Dewis Hawthorn & Moss & Hill & all the other true pure British hero's within all spheres including motoring. Only an ageing minority will have any idea who he is. Now if a certain new member of the royal family needed help ........................
And by 'migrants' do you mean people who've lived here forever or should you not have used the inverted commas because you mean people who came here to live, work, pay tax and contribute to society?
Perhaps instead of using this story as a soapbox for bigotry you could just give his friends some money?
I think thr bigotry is reflected in your own persona, I’m sure most right-minded readers would grasp what I mean.
I’m not afraid to pin my colours to the mast and say, in my opinion, he is more deserving of help than some Johnny-come-lately economic migrant and asylum seekers that aren’t.
Norman Dewis is a gem, one of those rare, humble and true human beings, and, as many would agree, a national treasure.
This isn’t about getting on a soapbox, this is about what we deem to be ‘right’, and PH has obviously displayed that by pushing the story.
I’ve already donated (ok, my wife has, as she’s deals with our finances) but I still feel that a person that has been a shining beacon for all that is good about being British, who has paid his taxes and paid his dues, should be looked after by our government.
And by 'migrants' do you mean people who've lived here forever or should you not have used the inverted commas because you mean people who came here to live, work, pay tax and contribute to society?
Perhaps instead of using this story as a soapbox for bigotry you could just give his friends some money?
I think thr bigotry is reflected in your own persona, I’m sure most right-minded readers would grasp what I mean.
I’m not afraid to pin my colours to the mast and say, in my opinion, he is more deserving of help than some Johnny-come-lately economic migrant and asylum seekers that aren’t.
Norman Dewis is a gem, one of those rare, humble and true human beings, and, as many would agree, a national treasure.
This isn’t about getting on a soapbox, this is about what we deem to be ‘right’, and PH has obviously displayed that by pushing the story.
I’ve already donated (ok, my wife has, as she’s deals with our finances) but I still feel that a person that has been a shining beacon for all that is good about being British, who has paid his taxes and paid his dues, should be looked after by our government.
Wouldn't have gone down the migrant line myself, but on a broader scale you have a point. We do seem to find money for all kinds of people who don't deserve it or contribute. So sucks a bit that we can't do it for someone who definitely has.
On another note does anyone know how much they actually need? Say annually?
I think thr bigotry is reflected in your own persona, I’m sure most right-minded readers would grasp what I mean.
And, just maybe, try to behave in a true British way: don’t expect the “state” to sort out stuff, but carry on and help Norman whilst keeping your stiff upper lip, instead of complaining about other people being helped.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff