Music man Norman's honours delight (From Warrington Guardian)

Music man Norman's honours delight

2:00pm Thursday 3rd January 2013 in News

A STALWART of music in the town said he could not believe it when he was named in the New Year's Honours list.

Norman Cutter, of Middlehurst Road, Grappenhall, has run the young musicians competitions in Warrington for nearly 20 years and was awarded a British Empire Medal.

Collecting his award will form part of an exciting year as the 73-year-old also celebrates his golden wedding anniversary with wife Helen, who will also turn 70 in 2013.

Norman, who organised the Live at St Wilfrid's concert series in Grappenhall, said: “It began after talking to the church warden Gordon Berry about a way of keeping the parish together and 22 years later it’s a highly respected concert series.

“WAICIDOM (Warrington Arts Council Initiative for the Development of Music which provides free lunchtime recitals at Holy Trinity Church) probably takes up the most time but it’s also becoming increasingly difficult to find the funding for the young musicians competition which as far as we know is the only one of its kind in the north west.

“I couldn’t do it without Helen and the support of the committees.”

The secretary of Friends of Walton Hall Music and retired accountant needs to raise £4,000 by the end of June for the 2014 young musicians competition.

Helen, who has two children and four grandchildren with Norman, said: “I knew a close friend was nominating him so when the letter came I knew what it was going to be and just watched as he opened it.

“He really deserves it.”