Norman Morris, 60, puppeteer/professor of Punch and Judy
Hoodoo
9:30am Friday 6th August 2010
By Emily Roberts
http://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/8316532.Tributes_paid_to_Punch_and_Judy_local_legend/
http://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/resources/images/1383072/
Norman Morris
TRIBUTES have been paid to a local Punch and Judy show legend who died
after collapsing mid-performance.
Norman Morris was entertaining children in Glebe Gardens, Basingstoke,
on July 25 when he suddenly announced: “I’m sorry boys and girls. I
can’t carry on with the show.”
The 60-year-old, from Budds Close, then suffered a heart attack,
collapsed and was taken to Basingstoke hospital where he died.
Elisa Berry, who helped organised the show and was with Mr Morris at the
time, said: “It was very sad. He was giving a performance and he knew
that something was seriously wrong. His last words were to tell the
children he couldn’t carry on. He was a very giving person and so
professional.”
The news came as a devastating shock to his family, but they are taking
some comfort from the fact he died doing what he loved the most.
A statement from his family said: “Norman’s love for creativity will
always be remembered by all those who have been fortunate to know him.
He loved life and laughter and was a true professional to the end.”
Mr Morris, a grandfather of four, had lived in Basingstoke since 1974
with his wife Julie and they had two children, Paul and Debbie.
He was a founding member of the Brookvale Bonfire Society, helping to
organise annual firework displays each year. He later arranged displays
for the Basingstoke Carnival and helped start the tradition of the
Mayor’s Firework Fiesta.
His theatrical skills moved to Punch and Judy in 1984 when he put on a
New Year’s Eve show for his friends. It turned into a full-time hobby
and he made all of his own puppets, props and wrote his own shows.
Mr Morris spent the next 20 years taking his show around the UK in his
spare time, performing at children’s parties, fetes and festivals.
After a career in sales, he became a full-time professor of Punch and
Judy in 2005 and also returned to studying, gaining a BA in creative
industries with a first class honours from The University of Winchester.
Mr Morris ran the Punch and Judy Festival in Basingstoke for 14 years,
and was looking for ways to expand the event. His family said he wanted
to “put Basingstoke on the map” for Punch and Judy.
His daughter Debbie Cowley said her father’s life was “full of colour”
and he was dearly loved by his family and many friends.
His funeral will take place at 11.45am on August 10 at Basingstoke
Crematorium, and will be followed by a memorial service at 2pm at St
Michael’s Church, Basingstoke.
--
Trout Mask Replica
KFJC.org, WFMU.org, WMSE.org, or WUSB.org;
because the pigoenholed programming of music channels
on Sirius Satellite, and its internet radio player, suck