Norman Bushby

Tribute to Redcar’s gentleman King of Clubs
Feb 7 2008 by Dave Robson, Evening Gazette

REDCAR was in mourning today for its king of clubs.

The town is expected to grind to a halt next Wednesday for the funeral of much-loved doorman Norman Bushby, who has died aged 66.

Since 1968, “Norman the Doorman” was known by almost everyone who enjoyed a night out in Redcar - and by many others across Teesside.

Firm and formidable but with a heart of gold, he manned the doors at Jigsaw, the Top Deck, the Madison in Middlesbrough, the Coatham, Darcy’s, Philmore’s in Saltburn, Silk’s and O’Grady’s.

He kept working until late last year when, unknown to him, he was being increasingly affected by a liver tumour, even though he didn’t smoke and rarely drank.

Diagnosed in December, the tumour claimed Norman’s life on Monday. His final moments were as he wanted, at home on Redcar’s Mickledales estate, surrounded by loved ones.

Since then, his beloved family, wife Peggy and sons Nick, Chris - known as Citta - and Jason, have been inundated with best wishes from people with their own fond memories of a true Redcar character.

Born in 1941 and brought up in Dormanstown with sister Margaret - mum of West Brom boss and Boro legend Tony Mowbray - Norman met the girl of his dreams, Peggy, on the waltzers at Saltburn.

They married at Guisborough Register Office in 1960 - “everyone said it would never last,” smiles Peggy - and remained devoted to each other to the end.

Norman, a grandad of seven, had two working lives. By day, he was a plater, beginning as an apprentice at Dorman Long before spending 25 years at ICI.

But by night, he was a bouncer who commanded respect, not through heavy handedness but through firmness, diplomacy and good humour.

His career on the doors began in 1968 at the Jigsaw behind the Swan Hotel, where he took a job to help make ends meet.

Then a popular haunt of Hell’s Angels, who often turned up with chains and knives, it was a daunting baptism of fire - but Norman took it in his stride.

In the 1970s, players from Jack Charlton’s Boro team regularly popped into the Top Deck and Norman knew them all. Comedian Roy Chubby Brown was also a pal.

And right up to his last shift at O’Grady’s less than two months ago, the respect he generated from pub and club-goers was immense.

The funeral, when Tony Mowbray is expected to be a pallbearer, is at St Peter’s Church, Redcar, next Wednesday at 12.30pm, followed by burial at Redcar Cemetery.

Son Citta said: “He knew how to handle any situation.

“Through all those years, he was never in trouble with the law or unnecessarily aggressive. He was a gentleman.

“And he never claimed a pound in benefits or had a day off work, even if he was ill. He was such an honest man.”

Peggy agreed, saying: “He wouldn’t even park on double yellows.”

Apart from Redcar, his two favourite places were Whitby, where son Jason runs the Angel pub, and Jersey, which always rekindled memories of happy family holidays.

He loved his sport, and even had a trial for Boro in 1956, but horse-racing was his favourite.

More often than not, he failed to back a winner but, perhaps fittingly, the last horse he backed romped home at 16-1.

His popularity around Redcar and beyond is undoubted, with the Redcar.net website inundated with tributes.

Peggy smiled: “If we ever went out, he never had to spend anything because everyone wanted to buy him a drink. People even offered to pay for his medical treatment. He was much loved.”

Nick added: “He was a strong bloke but he didn’t need to use his strength.

“If you ever spoke to him, you wouldn’t have thought he was 66 because he was so in touch with the younger generation.

“I’ve been in different parts of the country and when people hear my name and realise where I’m from, I’m often asked ‘are you any relation to Norman?’”

Jason said: “He lasted so long because he had real respect.”

Recently, Norman spent his days working at Citta’s garage business, Cartech.

But his night-time home was the Redcar pub and club scene where, by common consent, a shining star has gone out.

You can leave messages of condolence for Norman's family on our TS10