Norma was born in Huddersfield in August 1936, the 3rd child in a family of 3 girls and 1 bother. Times were lean with rationing and a father that she never knew from the age of 3 till 9, when he finally returned home after the war.
But despite these hardships, a young Norma developed many passions which have stayed with her all her life.
She loved dogs, she loved nature, she loved opera form the age of 7 and she was a talented athlete winning many trophies for her school and proud of her prefect status earned through those achievements.
She never understood at the time why she was asked to sing solos at school and was unaware of her own musical ability till the age of about 12.
Unfortunately there was no money for singing lessons, however she caught the attention of local singing teacher who insisted on teaching her for no fee. Norma eventually contributed from earnings from her first job at Huddersfield Co op.

Life however, took a turn when she married and went on to have 8 children. For many years her singing was abandoned for the responsibilities of a large family.

But for Norma, singing was a passion, and she somehow found her way into local amateur dramatic and musical societies in which she performed for many years including Gilbert and Sullivan another outlet for her love of opera. She joined a choir called the Pennine Singers who created an album and had a spot on the radio.

During her many years working in the NHS, Norma helped to create and participate in a spoof version of ‘NHS Pinnafore’ which was hugely successful in raising funds for a Body Scanner Appeal.

In her later years, and by then, a widow she sang solos in Huddersfield Town Hall and Pudsey Civic Hall and during which she captured the heart of her 2nd husband, the much talented Choral conductor, Malcolm Fairless. They married in 2009. They had 8 wondrously happy years together which were cut tragically short by Malcolm’s early death at 62.

Norma continued singing in local choirs in her home village of Golcar and Outland until very recently.
She hopes to return to a more active life following a heart procedure due in September….watch this space…

Contact Norma via Carol at [email protected]