The old Etonian, who has died at the age of 91, was a former investment banker who founded Bluebird Toys – the makers of the Big Yellow Teapot House, the Big Red Fun Bus, and the Polly Pocket dolls.
The son of a baronet and wartime air commodore, he was also a keen aviator who did his National Service in the Fleet Air Arm.
Sir Torquil, who lived in Camden Town, made his millions as founder of Bluebird Toys, the maker of the Polly Pocket dolls. (Image: Courtesy of The Roundhouse) Famously tall at 6ft 7in, the Camden Town resident purchased the crumbling former engine shed in Chalk Farm for £3 million as an impulse buy.
In the 1960s and 70s it had been the setting for legendary rock gigs and ground breaking theatre, but by 1996 it was crumbling and needed millions to restore it.
Sir Torquil founded the Norman Trust, a charity for children and young people, and set about raising £27 million from public and private investment.
The restored Roundhouse reopened in June 2006 as a 1,700 seat world class performance space with a creative centre offering training and facilities for young people.
Roundhouse CEO and artistic director Marcus Davey, who has run the venue for 25 years, said: “It is with immense sadness that we say farewell to our brilliant and formidable founder, president, former chair and great friend, Sir Torquil Norman, who died peacefully at home on Wednesday March 19.
“He was a true visionary, who brought so much joy to this world and never stopped believing in young people and never stopped believing in the Roundhouse.
“Without Torquil, the Roundhouse simply would not exist as it does today. He was an extraordinary business man, a huge advocate for creativity, the arts and young people, and simply a wonderful human being.
“We are sending all of our love to his partner Iga, children Jesse, Casey, Lulu, Caspar and Amy, and the whole Norman family at this desperately sad time.
“He was a great inspiration to me during the ten years I worked very closely with him and I will personally miss a very dear friend.”
Sir Torquil studied law and economics at Cambridge and Harvard before working as a banker at JP Morgan in New York then at Philip Hill, Higginson Erlanger’s in London.
In 1973 he became chief executive of toy manufacturing company Berwick Timpo before founding Bluebird Toys in 1980. As executive chairman he oversaw sales of nearly £100 million over the following years.
He was chairman and president of the British Toy and Hobby Manufacturers Association, a trustee of the Tavistock Clinic Foundation and trustee of the Fleet Air Arm Museum.
He was made a CBE in 2002 and knighted in 2007, the same year he stepped down as chair of the Roundhouse Trust and became president of the Roundhouse.
He married Lady Elizabeth Ann Montagu in 1961 and leaves 10 grandchildren and five children, including the artist Amy Sharrocks and Conservative MP Jesse Norman, who led tributes to his father in Parliament on Thursday.
