News From The Bedford, Morison and Cordery Almshouses

It is with great sadness that we write to inform you of the death of our dear friend and ex-Trustee Norman Tyrwhitt. Norman sadly passed away at home on 8th March 2025 at the age of 93 following a period in hospital suffering with pneumonia.

Norman was one of the greatest and most influential of all public servants that Watford has ever known. As well as being a Labour councillor for 20 years, Noman served two terms as Watford’s Mayor (1979-80 and 1995-96). He was one of only 20 people to be granted the prestigious “Freedom of the Borough”, the highest honour that a borough council can bestow on a citizen who has truly excelled in their service to the community. Other VIPs granted this privilege include Elton John, Graham Taylor, Luther Blissett and Norman’s wife Mavis. More remarkably, as a result of their work in furthering the twinning of Watford with Mainz in Germany and Nanterre in France, they were also each been made a “Freeman” of those two cities. Watford is probably unique in having Freemen who actively undertake activities on behalf of the borough on a frequent basis; Norman and Mavis carried out many civic engagements as representatives of the council, the Mayor and the Chairman.

Norman’s long-standing dedication to the local community is perfectly demonstrated by the number of offices he has held. Perhaps his greatest achievements were as Chair of the League of Friends of Watford Hospital. Toby Hyde, Chief Strategy Officer at West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said “Norman and Mavis provided six decades of support to Watford General Hospital, helping to fund over £1 million worth of equipment. Thousands of patients will have benefited not only from Norman’s fundraising, but from the friendly faces running the League’s coffee and tea bars at the hospital, offering a kind word at difficult times.”

Alison Rosen, CEO of West Herts Hospitals Charity, added: “We are enormously grateful to the League of Friends. Their parting donation in 2022 to the charity’s major capital appeal for a new interventional radiology scanner and equipment provided a huge boost. Norman’s contribution to the hospital and its patients will live on as the suite opened this year transforming cancer surgery and care for local residents.”

Norman was also Chair of the Governors of Garston Infant and Lea Farm Schools, Governor of Chater School, Holywell School and Laurance Haines School, and Chair of Labour's Leisure Standards Committee, Audit Committee and the Market Working Party. He has also served on the Local Education Executive, the Education Advisory Committee, and recently the East Gade Forum. Norman has also held directorships in other organisations which enhance the cultural life of the town, including The Watford Palace Theatre and Watford Musical Heritage.

As a Trustee of the Bedford Morison and Cordery Almshouses for 20 years, retiring in October 2023 owing to health issues, Norman’s priority was always the welfare of the residents.  He served with passion and devotion and his wise counsel was appreciated and respected by all Trustees.

Details of Norman’s funeral will be circulated as soon as they are known.