Pa Norton's 100th anniversary of his death, with the wreath laying on Saturday 12th April, starting at 11:00.
Lodge Hill Cemetery
Weobley Park Road
B-Ham
B29 5AA
If you wish to have a meal after with us could you please let Barry know (barry.owen573@ntlworld.com) for booking reservations.
All are welcome - Barry Owen
Lunch at.... The Country Girl - 1 Raddlebarn Road, B29 6HJ
Website at....
https://www.emberinns.co.uk/nationalsearch/eastandwestmidlands/the-country-girl-selly-oak?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb#/
2025 “Pa” Norton Wreath Laying service
We are rapidly approaching the 100-year centenary of James Lansdowne “Pa” Norton’s death.
Pa established the Norton Manufacturing Company in 1898 at premises on Bradford Street Birmingham. He was never a healthy man after having contracted rheumatic fever and suffering a number of bouts of illness, culminating in terminal bowel cancer. He died at 56 years of age on 21st of April 1925 and never saw how his designs would eventually become world beaters. He is buried at Lodge Hill cemetery, Weoley Park Rd, in Selly Oak, Birmingham, B29 5AA.
For 2025’s annual wreath Laying we are including (for those that want to go on it) a “ride-in” from Birmingham’s Bracebridge street Norton factory site B6 4NE, to the cemetery at Lodge Hill, Selley-Oak, Birmingham. Nowadays, the Bradford street premises are long gone in the modernity that is now central Birmingham. Bracebridge street, however, does still exist and is now a quiet little backwater eminently suitable as a ride-in starting off point. Indeed, the factory building is still there and if compared with an old photograph the frontage can still clearly be seen along with the “Blue Badge” fixed there some years ago by Members of the NOC and Geoff Duke esquire.
Anyone who would like to go on the ride-in should congregate in Bracebridge street, Birmingham B6 4NE, National Grid reference 407495, 288543 ready for a 10.00 am set off. Members of Shenstone Branch will guide riders through a quieter part of the city to the cemetery at Lodge Hill. We should arrive there easily for 10.40am in time to park the bike, take your helmet off and walk the short distance to the graveside. At 11.00am we will be having a short talk by Major Vic Kennedy of the Salvation Army about James’s life (he was a Captain in the Salvation Army) then, supported by the Salvation Army Band, a very short Christian service (if you are “not into it” then please be respectful of those that are !). The Laying of the NOC wreath will then take place.
After the service, we will then be having lunch at a nearby pub. To book a place please contact NOC Vice President Barry Owen greathaywoodbarry@gmail.com
For those travelling from a distance and wishing to stay overnight we have no recommendations to make but previously, Members have stayed at the Strawberry Bank Hotel on the outskirts of the city. It may look tempting, but we would not recommend staying in Aston.
Any questions please contact me, Alan Clarke (NOC Secretary) by email secretary@nortonownersclub.org mob. 07707 182176, or Vice President Barry Owen greathaywoodbarry@gmail.com
