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Bill Norris became a friend about 30 years ago. I was to pass my instructors course under Bill's supervision in around 1980. Bill used to encourage me when I was competing in shows. I remember watching Bill full squat a huge weight in front of 500 people, and win the best squat for the over 70s at a London show. ( Can't remember the weight, if any body has the facts, please let me know, so i can record it here). Years latter when Bill was nearly 90 years old, I remember speaking to him on the phone. I asked Bill if he was still training, Bill said that he had recently stopped training. Bill and I went on to talk about our faith in Jesus, Bill told me how he had been born again of God's Holy Spirit a number of years ago. We praise Jesus together. Bill clearly loved God. It was the last conversation we had, the next time I tried to contact Bill, I was told that Bill had died. I was saddened. The world has lost a great man. I thought to myself, Bill's not dead, Bill was alive in Jesus, saved, washed in the sinless blood of Jesus that Jesus shed at Calvary. Bills faith was in his risen Lord, Bill had simply fallen asleep in Jesus, and now serves Jesus face to face. I know that it was Bill's desire to see all men and women come to faith in Jesus, have their sins forgiven, and to end up in Heaven with him. Written by Stan of Stan's Gym Upminster. |
Here is an article I found on the Internet.
I am not sure who by. It read like this.
Hi Michael,
Hope it's all going well with the NPA mate. I am certainly training very hard. On the subject of BB history in the UK, I have another little gem. In about 1976 I trained for a while as a schoolboy at a little know about gym run by a guy called Bill Norris. This is his history from muscle memory:
Bill Norris,
1954 Mr Britain - HSL, Masters, 1st
1955 Mr Britain - HSL, Masters, 4th
1957 Mr Britain - NABBA, Masters, 1st
1958 Mr Britain - NABBA, Masters, 4th
1959 Mr Britain - NABBA, Masters, 1st
1960 Mr Britain - NABBA, Masters, 2nd
1961 Mr Britain - NABBA, Masters 40+, 3rd
1962 Mr Britain - NABBA, Masters 40+, 3rd
The amazing thing about this guy was that his gym was in the garage beside his house. He pushed us to do deep breathing, slow, high rep squats and loved it when one of us threw up, usually in his front garden. He would roar with laughter and shout, "Sick Job, Sick Job!"
Last week I decided to go see if he was still alive. I drove around the streets trying to remember the route I'd walked 33 years ago. I almost gave up when I tried one last road and a neighbor guided me to the house. I instantly remembered it and tentatively knocked on the door. Unfortunately Bill passed away last year aged 92, but his wife Irene is still alive and very well. I asked her what became of the gym in the garage and to my utter amazement she said, "It's all still there!" Well I opened the door and there it was, exactly as it was back then, and a few guys still train there. I'm looking forward to doing the odd workout there myself for old times sake. I thought you guys might like to see these pictures I took last week.
It's an incredible little place.
If it was you who wrote this article pease get in touch so that I can put your name to this article. Thank you for it and your photos. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY PHOTOS OF BILL NORRIS TO ADD TO THIS SITE. PLEASE E-MAIL ME STAN EARLE. THANK YOU.
I would like to take this opportunity to offer my condolences to Bill's wife and his family for their great loss. |
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| Photos courtesy of Colin Norris & Malcolm Whyatt, secretary of the Oscar Heidenstam Foundation. |
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