Richard Davies, Norman's son informs us that his father Norman Glyn Davies died yesterday, the 10th July 2024. He had returned home after a short stay in Colchester Hospital where a terminal cancer was diagnosed.

His wife, son and daughter were at his side as he passed peacefully and without pain. 

Tributes

From Alan HS

I got to know Norman only through the MOGS Virtual Orange Tree Tuesday evening chats he instituted and we all developed a typical Marconi comradeship encompassing opinions on everything-and-nothing! We all remembered the Company as it was in its heyday - more like groups of friends in different areas of operation, meeting up as-and-when circumstances permitted. His stories about on-location experiences were fascinating to those of us like myself who worked in the laboratories. He will be missed

From Robin W

So sorry to hear of Norman’s passing. My condolences to Richard and the rest of the Davies family. 

I met Norman a number of times during my time with Marconi Radar but more so in the weekly MOGS Zoom gathering. Thank you Norman for arranging this. Many acquaintances and friends were made over the years as a result of this gathering and many stories told.

RIP Norman.

From Barry F

Very sorry to hear the sad news about Norman. I knew he wasn't well when we last met up at the Marconi Vets lunch in April. However, it has come as a complete shock to know he has passed away.

I got to know Norman and his family very well in the 1980s when I was responsible for sales and marketing in the Far East with first MRSL and then with Raytheon Cossor.

When I returned to Marconi's in 1991 as part of GMATS, Norman joined GMATS as engineering support and we worked together for around three years until I left Marconi again and rejoined Raytheon. He was very good at his job, always very good company and a friend.

My sincere condolences to his wife and family.

From Alan T

Although I have never actually met Norman, I have met him a few times online, soon after the weekly get-togethers started. It was good to get to know a little of others who joined in, with Norman ably in charge. Unfortunately the mid-day timing didn't suit me very well and I had to drop out, though I have continued to receive the regular notifications. The timing change, sadly, didn't work for me either, but in the meantime I had a number of email exchanges with Norman about a collection of early photographs of Chelmsford from the late 1800s and early 1900s. They feature on a set of table mats that we regularly use and every time I look at them I am reminded of Norman and his gracious understanding when I told him I would not be joining in any more of the Zoom sessions. I still wonder whether one day I might do so again (or even turn up one day at the Orange Tree) but it's unlikely for now.

 Best wishes to Norman and his family.

From Andy E

I’m so sad to hear the terrible news. I worked on and off with Norman for many years including a spell together in GMATS. Norman was a very good engineer and I always found him great fun to work with. I remember some legendary escapades in Malaysia.

I wish sincere condolences to Eleanor, Caroline, Richard and their families.

From Colin B

Norman was a good friend for many years. Our paths first crossed when we were still at university in the late '60s. Norman was in Salford and I was in London but we had a mutual friend so we went to each other's parties.  At Marconi we both worked on the Forge en-route ATC system for Malaysia installed at Subang and later, Genting. Then, when the system was upgraded to interface to a new approach control system, Norman and Eleanor looked after me very well when I went there to commission the new software. Music was important too as we were both members of rock groups back in our youths.

Norman will be sadly missed.

From Alan M

Very surprised and sad to hear that Norman had died.

I worked with him from time to time in E-block on the Malaysian ATC project and later socially at the Orange Tree Pub. I always found him to be very good company and will miss his very distinctive Welsh accent which characterised his many amusing anecdotes.

RIP Norman

From Ian G

Norman joined the MOGS in 2011 and ran the virtual Zoom meetings during CoVID from 2020 until just recently. He was that unusual combination of a fine engineer and an affable and pleasant individual. I first met him in 1978 in Kuala Lumpur while I was supporting Bunny Austin on a sales trip around the Far East - Norman took us to the "Subang Hilton", which turned out to be a primitive restaurant — but with delicious food — in a kampong at the end of the Subang Airport peri track…

Malaysia figured largely in Norman's career - he flew out for a short visit to fix a reported fault in the Subang ATCC display system — which turned out to be a radar head problem — and he ended up staying there for 12 years, returning with a wife and two children… He was a fund of hilarious anecdotes about esoteric Malaysian subjects such as the Rhinoceros Hornbill as a potential source of radar clutter (apparently the Malaysian green wood pigeon was the guilty party!)…

A super guy, who will be greatly missed!

From Malcolm M

It was with incredible sadness that I heard that Norman is no longer with us.

I first met Norman at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia in 1971, where we were working in the SOC. He was a talented engineer. Over the next two years we tended to be on the same sites, especially  during the initial handover of the ADC in Riyadh, Salbukh and Dhahran in 1973.

We started work at RAF West Drayton in August 1973, where Norman played in a group with Ted Friday and a couple of RAF Technicians. By 1975 we were both in the Chelmsford area, Norman was at Rivenhall, and I was in the PCTA. By 1976 he had left to go to Malaysia. I was not to see him for some years. On his return he joined GMATs and then worked on Sales and Marketing for Mike Steeds. It was only in 2001 that I was involved with him on the HADAF Project in Oman, when he was working in Systems; which was followed by SWMLU and his later MOGs activities.

My abiding memory of him, is the singing of a little tune to himself in his absent minded way, usually when he was thinking about something. He was a great colleague and friend who I shall remember for the rest of my life with some admiration for his abilities.

I send my condolences to Eleanor, Richard and Carolyn.

RIP Norman. Thanks for the great times we shared in the early days.