My good friend Norman Blow, who has died aged 89, was a musician and much-loved trainer who lived a full and assorted life with vitality, appeal and a depraved sense of humour.
Born in Farnborough, Hampshire, Norman was a rustic boy. His first day in school was inside days of the outbreak of the second world conflict. Because the blitz started, his dad and mom, Leonard Blow, an engineer, and Winifred (nee Organ), who had labored in home service, moved the household into London, the place they opened a grocer’s store.
Norman moved out and in of London together with his household through the conflict, attending a number of colleges. He loved studying the flute, however after his mom unintentionally sat on it, he noticed an oboe in a store window, and that grew to become his foremost instrument for all times.
He left faculty at 16 with none {qualifications}. After a few workplace jobs, a good friend recommended he be a part of the RAF as a musician. A profitable audition led to a 12 months on the RAF Music College in Uxbridge. His first main engagement with the RAF was the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, each element of which remained clear in his reminiscence all his life.
A posting with the air power band in Singapore opened the world to him because the band performed at occasions all around the far east. To enhance his life possibilities, he started taking O-levels, and after demob, he utilized to Goldsmiths, College of London, to coach as a major faculty trainer, with music as his foremost topic. Gaining a BMus in 1972 and later an MA from Studying College, he spent 40 years educating and provoking many college students. After working at varied colleges in Kent, in 1972 he grew to become head of music at Wombwell Corridor women’ grammar faculty, Northfleet, remaining there for 22 years. He cherished to organise snowboarding journeys and opera visits for his college students.
In addition to educating he was out each night time of the week, enjoying in orchestras, singing in choirs, and conducting native bands, choirs and orchestras. He sang in church choirs all his life from the age of 11.
The RAF years kindled an urge for food for journey, and Norman visited most of Europe, Africa, South America, India and Australia. Journey additionally deepened his love for animals, and he supported a number of animal charities.
After retiring, he continued as a provide trainer in varied components of Kent and taught privately. He continued singing, enjoying and conducting nicely into his 80s. Norman had been editor of the RAF Music Providers Affiliation journal, The Blue and the Gold, for the final 20 years. In 2018 he moved from his house in Gravesend to dwell with me, an outdated good friend, in North Yorkshire.
He’s survived by two kids, John and Elizabeth, from his marriage to Christine, which led to divorce.
