I have received several communications from Club members who not only played Rugby with him but were taught by him at Imberhorne School. All of these stories speak for themselves but the general theme that emerges is that Norman was a brilliant teacher and a larger than life character.

Dave Harrison says, “Norman taught me ‘A’ level History in the early 70s and despite spending most of our time discussing Rugby, I passed. He was a lovely man and one of my favourite teachers.”

Alan Plester added, “I was a colleague of Norman’s at Imberhorne and although he had stopped playing by the time I joined the Club, former team mates of his told me of Norman scoring a try against Crowborough with the whole of their pack clinging to him as he crossed the line, a proud Welshman.”

Mike Gray said, “It was a privilege to be taught by Norman, to be at North End Youth Club, (run by Norman) and to play Rugby with him at EGRFC. He was a great teacher, a disciplinarian but always fair with a great sense of humour. He told many stories about his Welsh Rugby playing prowess.”

Stephen Harris said, “I joined the Club in 1967, aged 15 and I remember Norman as a big man, 1st team prop who loved his Volvos. He took me for History at ‘O’ & ‘A’ level, he was a terrific teacher. He took a small group of 15 year olds overland to Russia, Moscow and Leningrad (as it was known at that time) and then back via the Baltic. He was a fantastic leader with a great sense of humour, as we crossed Check Point Charlie in Berlin Norman leaned out of the train window and promptly had an East German guard shove a pistol up his nose.

Ron Mason informs me that he had many enjoyable rounds of golf with Norman at Holtye, often in a foursome.

Finally, a memory I have of Norman. Judy and I were sitting by a pool in Tenerife when I heard a Welsh voice, “Peter, Peter is that you?” I turned round to see Glenys and Norman standing there. After brief “what are you doing here” we arranged to meet in the bar, where else, after dinner. The four of us, well Norman and I, spent a lovely evening discussing Rugby and the old days at the Club. He reminded me that I was just the new boy as I only joined in 1985 and he had been a member since the 60s, playing with the likes of Eddie Pitt and Harry Townsend. (Not too sure what Glenys and Judy talked about?)

Norman was a great character who will be sadly missed by many. He spent the last five years tending his garden after Glenys passed in 2015. He leaves a son James, a hooker with whom I played when he was just out of the Colts, and a daughter Alysson.
Our thoughts and sincere condolences to James, Alysson, family and friends at this very sad time.

Peter Reed
Hon Sec EGRFC

Norman's funeral is to take place on Thursday 8 October 2020 at Surrey & Sussex Crematorium. Peter Reed will be attending to represent East Grinstead RFC.

I should like to thank William Davies for all his help in obtaining much of this information.

Norman Humphreys in 2018 at the Millennium Stadium, watching Wales beat South Africa