Norman Wisdom visits Arnolds Estate
Here's a couple of pics of Norman Wisdom taken when he visited Variety Park on Arnolds Estate.
I don't know the exact date of when these pics were taken but I do know they were taken by my mum from the living room window of my grandmother's flat 1 Arnolds Estate which overlooked Variety Park.
Apparently my mum made Norman a cup of tea which was taken out to him and later in an interview with a newspaper...maybe the SLP...he thanked ''the kind lady that made me the nice cup of tea''!
Judging by the ladies skirt and Norman's famous suit I think they may have been taken sometime in the 1950's but I can't be sure.
If anyone remembers Norman's visit to Arnolds Estate and/or was there at the time please get in touch!
Kind regards
Lesley
wow gr8 pics...nice one
Thanx paul!
I had these pics in an album for years then I decided to scan them in and voila!
I think they scanned in quite good!
Lesley
i remeber playing in the park. the grass norman is standing on was closed of when we were young, but that did'nt stop us, we used to jump of the tops of the built up bushes, we never knew that they were old air raid shelters. we spent hours in the park and loved every second. we lived in 175. the other side of sweeney crescent until we were moved to 43 when they modernised and installed central heating, 43 is in the block that is behind norman in the pics, my mum still lives there and you can see her living room window. excellent pics.
Thanks Londonboy!
I also had an uncle and cousin, Len and Gary Owens, who lived on Arnolds Estate.
I don't know if your or your mum knew Len and/or Gary.
I don't know what number they lived but it was in the block facing your mum's and they lived on the top floor.
Kind regards
Lesley
I was there when Norman Wisdom came to the Park. I was actually in a talent competition that day and he was the judge. I could only have been about 10 years old or so. My maiden name was Searle. If I can remember correctly I think I came second, singing "Unchained Melody", yes, that song really is that old. I am now the ripe old age of 67.
That photo bought back a lot of memories.
I was there when Norman Wisdom came to the Park. I was actually in a talent competition that day and he was the judge. I could only have been about 10 years old or so. My maiden name was Searle. If I can remember correctly I think I came second, singing "Unchained Melody", yes, that song really is that old. I am now the ripe old age of 67.That photo bought back a lot of memories.
-ajcbradley
I'm glad to hear from someone who actually remembers being there that day!
so it was around 1955 that my mum took this photo?
Great to hear from you!
Lesley
HI BERMONDSEYGAL.
Have posted some of this before though probable got the
date wrong as Unchained Melody was released in 1955. Great pictures of Norman Wisdom and yes I was actually
there, trying for the life of me to work out what year it was. I think it was
probably 1952/53. I can remember the weather was quite good, the excitement in
the crowd and people laughing I don't think I appreciated it then but it was
just one of those good days (.I can remember your Nan never gave me a cup of
tea.) Just to add to this I did get to know Norman in the late seventies/early
eighties in Kensington where he had a flat I used to park in front of
his garage. The first thing he ever said to me was could I let him out of his
garage, being a typical South Londoner and knowing he supporter Newcastle I
joked I don’t move for Newcastle supporters which cracked him up.
What a nice person he was, no airs or grace's just a very nice man. Thanks’ for
the laugh's NORMAN.
Kiwi
Hi Kiwi!
What a great story of your knowing Norman in Kensington!
I can imagine he was a very nice, down to earth man.
Norman went to the same primary School...St. Luke's in Kilburn...as my husband although in different years!
Lesley
Hi Lesley.
Your right he was very down to earth person who
would like anybody else just stand around talking. I can remember the first time I let him out of
his garage and many times after I couldn’t believe it, he drove out in a clapped
out old van, I was expecting a nice flash limo. Then one day he pulled out in
his Rolls Royce so I ask if he had traded his van in. Well in Normans posh
voice he said he was going to a posh do, then explained that he used the van in
London because if he parked the RR in some places it would probably be damaged.
Kiwi
Hi Kiwi!
I never had the pleasure of meeting Norman but I've met quite a lot of famous people and I found the bigger stars were more down to earth whereas the two bit ''stars'' we're quite arrogant and bigheaded!
Maybe that's why the latter never became big stars?!
All the best!
Lesley
