TOWN PAYS ITS RESPECTS TO A COMMUNITY STALWART
NORMAN DEACON TOW LAW 1933-2025
By Anita Atkinson
ST PHILIP and St James church, Tow Law was full of people of all ages who came to say their last
farewell to the friendly hill-top town’s patriarch on March 17 th .
Norman Deacon made his final visit to the church where he has served man and boy, and for the
last few decades, as the conscientious church warden. Every wedding, baptism, funeral and church
event over all of that time has been organised and enriched by Norman Deacon in one capacity or
another.
And so, Norman’s cortege entered to the sound of the church organ with Rev Jon Whalley
preceding it and welcomed the large congregation with words and prayers before the first hymn,
‘Dear Lord and Father of Mankind’.
Norman’s nephew, Neville Harrison, stood to pay tribute on behalf of Norman’s family. It was a
warm eulogy, full of not only memories but of hope. Norman believed the Christian message of
another life after this one. He certainly lived his whole life with Christian values.
Neville thanked the large congregation, saying the numbers showed how much Norman had been
valued in the community to which he was born, bred and lived his whole life. He thanked the ‘Flower
Ladies’ for the beautiful floral arrangements in the church and spoke about the countless times
Norman himself had decorated it for innumerous occasions over the years.
He said that after Norman’s beloved wife, Betty, died six months ago, he had the pleasure of
spending a lot of time with his uncle. Wherever he went with Norman, they came across people who
knew him. Whenever those who knew him thought about Norman, certain qualities come to mind:
kindness, care, consideration, generosity, loyalty, selflessness. He was a cherished member of the
local community, guiding those around him with his gentle ways.
His life was a rich tapestry of hard work, creativity and dedication, enriching the lives of everyone
he came into contact with. A humble man by nature, he never sought recognition as he worked
tirelessly behind the scenes. He had the extraordinary ability to listen, understand and offer comfort,
making everyone feel valued and his wisdom was a guiding light.
There will hardly be a family in Tow Law that Norman hasn’t been involved with in one way or
another. Perhaps what they didn’t know about Norman, who was 92 years old when he died, that in
his earlier life, he had been a keen footballer, playing for Tow Law and at one point, played against
Bobby Robson, the former England manager, when two village teams met. Norman served on the
Tow Law AFC committee for over 35 years after his playing days finished and he did a lot of work for
the team and the clubhouse, much of it without recognition because he preferred it that way.
He was there when the Tow Law team went to Wembley.
Another interesting fact about him was that he spent his National Service in the RAF in Egypt
where he showed courage and dedication to his country. But what most people knew about Norman
was his devotion to his wife, Betty, whom he married in 1959 and spent 65 years in wedded bliss.
They were a team and supported each other throughout those years with a marriage so strong that
they inspired everyone around them.
Norman served his time as an apprentice stonemason and was a very handy bricklayer. He built
the bungalow the couple lived in himself – it overlooked his beloved Tow Law FC and the moors and
fells of the North Pennines. Betty was renowned for working in the town’s Post Office for over 50
years and for which she received the MBE, travelling to the Palace to receive it.
Together, their knowledge of the town and its history was probably unequalled. They were both
workers, both consumed in the friendly hill top town and a huge part of it. They enjoyed each
other’s hobbies and were like one. In her latter years, Norman ensured that Betty, despite ill health
and lack of mobility was able to stay in their home and he cared for her. He was a great cook and his
home baking was renowned. Nothing was ever too much for his Betty – what she wanted, he made
sure she had.
From an early age, Norman had shown the qualities he was renowned for. Neville recounted a
story of Norman as a seven-year-old, collecting holly for his mother at Christmas when a neighbour
stopped him and asked for the holly, giving him sixpence for his trouble. When he told his mother,
she told him that the lady had just lost her husband and every penny would count in her household.
Norman took the sixpence back but the lady refused to take it so after she closed the door, he
slipped it underneath the door and went home, satisfied he had done what was right.
It was his dedication to duty at the parish church that earned Norman his most notable and
memorable experience when he was chosen to receive the Maundy Money from HM The Queen at
York Minster in 2012, her Diamond Jubilee year. Norman was overwhelmed at the honour and
thoroughly enjoyed the experience but in his humble way, never spoke too much about it
afterwards.
What Norman was renowned locally and even nationally for was his expertise in flower
arranging. He first became interested when he attended a course at Bishop Auckland College many
years ago. He became consumed by the hobby, worked to become one of the most notable in the
country and gave demonstrations and talks all around the north east. He not only decorated the
church he now laid in but was in demand all over the region for his displays, he organised, ran and
entered the stunning Flower Festivals in his own church and others, raising thousands of pounds for
charities.
Norman was the flower man with his remarkable, breathtaking displays, interpreting themes like
no other. Folk travelled many miles to visit the floral events he arranged just to see what creations
he would come up with next. He was very, very creative and ingenious in his work and led flower
arranging classes around the region too. He was always in demand and demonstrated to sell-out
audiences.
One of my own personal memories of Norman’s expertise was when he willingly decorated our
farm and the marquee when our daughter married in 2008. He refused any monetary reward and
using the wild flowers that surrounded us, created stunning displays that enriched the wedding
experience. And in another, it was Norman and Betty who brought my family together with a
brother we didn’t know we had. Everyone has a personal memory of Norman and how he enriched
their lives.
Neville ended his eulogy with a request for everyone who knew Norman to carry on his legacy of
love and be inspired by his example to strive to make the world a better place just as he did.
He ended with the words, ‘Like a beautiful flower Norman’s memory will bloom in our hearts
forever.’
Rev Geoff Lawes stood to give a moving tribute on behalf of the church. It was a sincere and
emotional tribute, a personal one that showed how much Norman would be missed by his church
and its congregation and visitors. In the 20 years he had known him and worked with him, in the
church and in his home, he built an ideal life with Betty. Together, they supported the town and its
people, especially with the church family.
He mentioned the couple’s passion for horse-racing, travelling to meetings around the region and
Norman in his ‘little blue car’ driving around the locality.
Rev Laws spoke of his work inside the church with past Ministers and tradesmen, and outside in
the community, ending his tribute almost in tears. ‘He was a leader who inspired us all,’ he said.
“Betty and Norman were so glad to have each other and we, no less, to know them both. They were
truly the salt of the earth.”
The second hymn, ‘Just as I am, without one plea’ was sung and Mrs Catherine Lawes read the
lesson from 1 Corinthians ch 13, ‘If faith that can move mountains but does not have love, I have
nothing…’
Rev Whalley gave the Address. ‘We have gathered here in sadness but also in gratitude because
we had the privilege of knowing him and walking alongside him. For me, the gift of his knowledge
and friendship.”
“His faith wasn’t merely professed but lived out in this church and the hope that his example lives
on in our own minds.
“The memories, the lessons, the kindness – we are here today because of Norman’s impact on our
lives – the love he leaves behind in our hearts.”
Rev Whalley quoted John – “Do not let your hearts be troubled…”
He led prayers before the final hymn, ‘O Lord My God..’ and the Commendation. Norman Deacon
then left the church and the town he served and loved for almost a century for the final time and the
congregation stood in his honour as the impressive procession of clergy and family left for the
Committal at Durham Crematorium.
Norman Deacon’s legacy will live on – he firmly believed in the power of community and had an
extraordinary ability to bring people together. His funeral was his final example of both.
