One of
the rare experiences
in the life
of
Reverend Norton Challenor who died recently at the age of 90 in Townsville , Queensland ,
was a test
flight in a
prototype of the ill-fated Comet jets . At the time he was working for the De Havilland Aircraft Company in the costing department at St Albans .
Born in Southport, Lancashire, he had a good singing voice, which developed into a booming baritone . As his grandfather had been the well known actor and playwright , James Bromley Challenor , Norton became involved in theatricals .
A member of the St Alban’s Cathedral Choir, for l5 years he was one of their regular soloists. He underwent several years of singing training with professor John Booth of the Royal Academy of Music and became a member of the Royal Choral Society of London, taking part in its centenary celebrations which included a performance at St James Palace where he met the Queen.
After he and his wife, Diana, a French teacher, spent a year in Victoria on exchange, during which they went on a camping holiday in North Queensland , they decided to emigrate to Australia .
Coming to Townsville , Norton taught at the Mundingburra State School, which readers know became closely associated with poor Billy Bombax .
Coming to Townsville , Norton taught at the Mundingburra State School, which readers know became closely associated with poor Billy Bombax .
Deeply involved in numerous Townsville organisations , he was a presenter on and a life member of the 4TTT-FM community radio station . While there he became aware of the tension between members who wanted more Rock'n'Roll music and those who liked classical . With a chuckle, he said it would take somebody with the wisdom of Solomon to solve the clash. After retiring from teaching in 1990, he became an ordained deacon and then an Anglican priest.
Another memorable occasion in his life was when he led the Dawn Service at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, and the service at the Lone Pine Memorial in the presence of the Governor-General , Sir William Deane, who gave the address on Anzac Day l999.
The many positions he held over the years included honorary chaplain to the Mission to Seamen , he blessed the fleet for more than 20 years , and was on the board and a life member of the Maritime Museum of Townsville . In April 2003 he was awarded the Prime Minister’s Centenary Medal for long service to the Mission to Seafarers, the elderly and the church .--- (From our Shipping Reporter who had pleasant dealings with Norton while researching the history of the radio station , the title of the manuscript Radioactive Coconuts ).
