Torquil Norman

Torquil studied Law and Economics at Cambridge and Harvard. He went on to work as a banker for over 10 years at JP Morgan and Company in New York and at Philip Hill, Higginson Erlanger’s in London, followed by a further five years as General Manager of Mineral Separation Ltd, a large industrial holding company.

In 1973 he became Chief Executive of a toy manufacturing company, Berwick Timpo Ltd and, between 1980 and 1996, founded and became Executive Chairman of the hugely successful, Bluebird Toys plc, which made sales of nearly £100m and a cash balance of £35m within 12 years.

He has been Chairman and President of the British Toy and Hobby Manufacturer’s Association, Chairman of the Trustees of Rendcomb College, Trustee of the Tavistock Clinic Foundation and Trustee of the Fleet Air Arm Museum.

In 1996 he founded the Norman Trust, a charity for children and young people. After retiring from Bluebird Toys plc he purchased the Roundhouse, Camden in 1996. He was awarded the CBE in 2002.