Reginald William Norman

Poet and Cartoonist
1901-1962

Reg's mother, Edith Courtesy of Rushden Museum

Mr Reginald William Norman was born in 1901. He lived in Moor Road and went to the school there. His mother Edith was one of the teachers and she also made knitted whips with little bells on to sell to the local children. Her pupils all seemed to find her kindly. Edith was also a member of the Black Mascots Concert Party, and was known for her humorous recitations, but we know nothing of the group.

Reg had a stiff leg and always walked with a stick, and he was a leather worker.

The Reliable Tap Washer Manufacturing Co. was in part of a factory at the corner of College Street and Duck Street.

Reg married Lily (nee Campion) in 1929 and they had one son, Patrick.

Reg became known as R.W.N. when he created a cartoon character "Air Ada" and she was featured by the Evening Telegraph for many years, and the cartoon was drawn by Peter Nevett. The cartoons portrayed a lady called Ada talking to her friend in "Rushdenese" or "Ruzdin" - our own distinctive dialect. The conversations Ada had were always down to earth and often included something her husband had said; "Nye sez". R.W.N. also wrote rhymes, both in plain English and in 'Ruzdin', sometimes describing events in the town.

In the 1980s some of his work was published in a fund raising book, together with a 70 year history of the "Rushden St John Ambulance Brigade" in aid of their Motor Ambulance Appeal. Some of the rhymes had been written for a War Memorial fund raising booklet, to put up a memorial inside the hospital in Hayway and that then became known as the Memorial Hospital.

Some of R.W.N.'s Rhymes R.W.N. Duck Street Rushden Hall R.W.N.'s obituary GI's & Brides W.V.S. A Tribute to R.W.N. G. P. O. Tank Letters to Mr & Mrs Anker Registration Wartime Tributes

Air Ada talking to Mawd Book cover Sketch by Peter Nevett A signed cover

In 1995 another booklet was published by Rushden & District History Society, to commemorate the 'blue plaque' erected on his home in Moor Road. It included several of the rhymes Reg had written especially to enclose with British Legion parcels sent to the troops during WWII.

Evening Telegraph, 1st Nov. 1999 : "Air Ada" was the brainchild of Evening Telegraph editor Ray Parkin, who commissioned the cartoon in 1956. It ran until 1962 when Reg died.