The 'E' Type Forum

Just heard some sad news .
Met Norman a few times over the years . Always a pleasure to talk with

I was hoping he would achieve his goal of driving the XJ13 at 100mph on his 100th birthday. Spoke to him a few times and it was a pleasure. Will be greatly missed. Sad weekend.

Very Sad.....Truly the greatest Jag story teller and all round top bloke.....will be missed by all in the Jag world....

Yes, a nice guy I was privileged to have a meal with. RIP Norman.

A special person ; very much his own man , and one of the great technical analysts of the time , and thus deserving much of the credit for the dynamics of Jaguars in the 1952 - 1972 period . RIP Norman Dewis

A very moving tribute by Andrew Frankel in Motorsport: https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opin ... dewis-hero

"So the next time some idiot jumps out of a side-turning forcing you into an emergency stop, as your powerful, fade-resistant discs bite, spare a thought for Norman and the role he played in bringing you safely to a halt."

Very sad news. He will not achieve his dream of 100 at 100.

Modern times use the term ‘legend’ far too often. But in this instance we have truly lost a legend.

RIP Norman.

Heard the sad news at a car show today. Rest in peace and my deepest sympathies to his family and all his many friends. He was a legend and a true gentleman who I was privileged to meet on several occasions. Julian aka cactusman.

Such an unassuming man and a real pleasure to be with. And one would never have guessed his age, so full of life all the time. So many memories of him, but one of my favourites was at the Festival of Speed in 2011 when, aged 91, he was delighted to drive E2A again. He set off at a great rate of knots and opposite-locked it at the first bend. On returning to the paddock I jokingly mentioned it and with a big smile he replied "well you never lose it, do you". I last saw him at XK70 and, although the cancer was biting, he was his usual smiling self. Here he is that day in 2011.

Very sad to hear. RIP.

Heuer wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 09, 2019 1:43 pm

A very moving tribute by Andrew Frankel in Motorsport: https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opin ... dewis-hero

"So the next time some idiot jumps out of a side-turning forcing you into an emergency stop, as your powerful, fade-resistant discs bite, spare a thought for Norman and the role he played in bringing you safely to a halt."

I have Walter Wright coming to dinner on Sunday. It was his dad who invented the disc brake at Dunlop. He has many a story of the old days to tell, all worth hearing. The other year we had a retired driver, young William Heynes and a few others at table after the Classic, but never dear Norman. How I would have liked to include him in the group. Here we were in the paddock in 2004

Norman was a true gentleman and great company.

A couple of days after I got my E project we met at the Shropshire JEC club night and he spent about an hour and a half asking me about the car and what needed doing and how I planned to proceed. He also regaled me with lots of anecdotes about the car's development.

I also remember him at the Valentine's dinner dance spending more time on the dancefloor than just about everybody else. Aged 88!

What a man!

I think of him every time I see a bootlace tie.

Rest in peace, Norman.

Yes very sad news. having met him a few times I can confirm he was a really nice guy. always had time to speak with you and very funny. Jaguar has lost an icon.