Arthur Lionel Pugh Norrington
Encyclopedia
Sir Arthur Lionel Pugh Norrington (October 27, 1899 – May 21, 1982), was a publisher, President of Trinity College, Oxford
, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University
, and originator of the Norrington Table
.
, Surrey
, England
. The only son and eldest child of Arthur James Norrington, a merchant in the City of London
, and his wife, Gertrude Sarah Elizabeth, daughter of William Pugh, a merchant from Montgomeryshire
. He was a scholar at Winchester College
from 1913, where he earned the nickname Thomas because of his scepticism
of received lore. In 1918, he enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery
and though he did not see active service, he lost a little finger in an accident. In 1919, he matriculated as a scholar to Trinity College, Oxford, achieving a first class in classical Honour Moderations
in 1920, followed by a second in Literae Humaniores
in 1923.
Moving to London
, he worked for the Oxford University Press
, who posted him to their branch in India
. Returning to Oxford
in 1925, he took the post of junior assistant secretary to the Delegates of the Press. He married Edith Joyce Carver on 15 September 1928. Norrington became assistant secretary to the Delegates of Oxford University Press in 1942; in 1948 he took the post of senior administrative officer of the Press and was elected a professorial fellow of Trinity College. Norrington focussed on expanding the range of the Press's educational books, particularly the very successful 'Great Wartime Series' Oxford Pamphlets. He was instrumental in expanding the Press' recognition outside Oxford University. Norrington was a keen musician and contributed a great deal to the Press' music publishing
as well as being a member of the Oxford Bach Choir
, he became chairman of its committee in 1949.
His son is the conductor Sir Roger Arthur Carver Norrington, CBE
.
In 1952, he was invited to become the next president of Trinity College, which he accepted and took up in 1954. He discharged his presidential duties well and took the affairs of the University seriously, both on the council and on the general board. He also held a post on the revising committee for the New English Bible
, and in 1960 became the first chairman of the government committee for the publication of cheap books abroad. His name in Oxford is remembered for having devised the Norrington Table, a system of assessing the results of the Oxford colleges in final examinations, the table continues to be compiled and the results published in the national press.
In 1960, Norrington became Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University and proceeded to spend time looking at the status of dons who were not fellows of colleges, and to the future planning of the Science Area. In 1968, he received a knighthood. Edith died at an early age in 1964 and on 9 December 1969 he married a widow, Ruth Margaret Cude.
Blackwell's
bookshop in Broad Street, Oxford
created a large room in 1966 under Trinity College land and named it the "Norrington Room" after him. As well as publishing, with professors H. F. Lowry and F. L. Mulhauser, an edition of the poems of Arthur Hugh Clough
in 1951, he wrote Blackwell's, 1879–1979: the history of a family firm, published posthumously in 1983. Retiring from Trinity in 1970, he became Warden of Winchester College
until 1974. He was made an honorary fellow
of Trinity, St Cross College
, and Wolfson College
. He became an officer of the Légion d'honneur
in 1962. Norrington died in the John Radcliffe Hospital
, Oxford, on May 21, 1982.
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, and originator of the Norrington Table
Norrington Table
The Norrington Table is an annual ranking that lists the colleges of the University of Oxford that have undergraduate students in order of the performance of their undergraduate students on that year's final examinations.- Overview :...
.
Life
Norrington was born at Normandy Villa, Godstone Road, KenleyKenley
Kenley is a district in the south of the London Borough of Croydon. It borders Purley, Coulsdon, Riddlesdown, Caterham and Whyteleafe. Kenley is situated 13 miles south of Charing Cross. The 2001 census showed Kenley having a population of 13,525....
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The only son and eldest child of Arthur James Norrington, a merchant in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, and his wife, Gertrude Sarah Elizabeth, daughter of William Pugh, a merchant from Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire, also known as Maldwyn is one of thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. Montgomeryshire is still used as a vice-county for wildlife recording...
. He was a scholar at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
from 1913, where he earned the nickname Thomas because of his scepticism
Skepticism
Skepticism has many definitions, but generally refers to any questioning attitude towards knowledge, facts, or opinions/beliefs stated as facts, or doubt regarding claims that are taken for granted elsewhere...
of received lore. In 1918, he enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery
Royal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
and though he did not see active service, he lost a little finger in an accident. In 1919, he matriculated as a scholar to Trinity College, Oxford, achieving a first class in classical Honour Moderations
Honour Moderations
Honour Moderations are a first set of examinations at Oxford University in England during the first part of the degree course for some courses ....
in 1920, followed by a second in Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores is the name given to an undergraduate course focused on Classics at Oxford and some other universities.The Latin name means literally "more humane letters", but is perhaps better rendered as "Advanced Studies", since humaniores has the sense of "more refined" or "more learned",...
in 1923.
Moving to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he worked for the Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, who posted him to their branch in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Returning to Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
in 1925, he took the post of junior assistant secretary to the Delegates of the Press. He married Edith Joyce Carver on 15 September 1928. Norrington became assistant secretary to the Delegates of Oxford University Press in 1942; in 1948 he took the post of senior administrative officer of the Press and was elected a professorial fellow of Trinity College. Norrington focussed on expanding the range of the Press's educational books, particularly the very successful 'Great Wartime Series' Oxford Pamphlets. He was instrumental in expanding the Press' recognition outside Oxford University. Norrington was a keen musician and contributed a great deal to the Press' music publishing
History of music publishing
- Early publishing:Music publishing did not begin on a large scale until the mid-15th century, with the first printing of music. The earliest existence of printed music dates from about 1465, and then only liturgical chants were printed...
as well as being a member of the Oxford Bach Choir
Oxford Bach Choir
The Oxford Bach Choir is one of the UK's best-known amateur choirs. It was founded by Basil Harwood in 1896 and is based in Oxford, England.There are around 200 voices in the choir...
, he became chairman of its committee in 1949.
His son is the conductor Sir Roger Arthur Carver Norrington, CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
.
In 1952, he was invited to become the next president of Trinity College, which he accepted and took up in 1954. He discharged his presidential duties well and took the affairs of the University seriously, both on the council and on the general board. He also held a post on the revising committee for the New English Bible
New English Bible
The New English Bible is a translation of the Bible into modern English directly from the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic texts . The New Testament was published in 1961...
, and in 1960 became the first chairman of the government committee for the publication of cheap books abroad. His name in Oxford is remembered for having devised the Norrington Table, a system of assessing the results of the Oxford colleges in final examinations, the table continues to be compiled and the results published in the national press.
In 1960, Norrington became Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University and proceeded to spend time looking at the status of dons who were not fellows of colleges, and to the future planning of the Science Area. In 1968, he received a knighthood. Edith died at an early age in 1964 and on 9 December 1969 he married a widow, Ruth Margaret Cude.
Blackwell's
Blackwell's
Blackwell UK Ltd is a national chain of bookshops, online retail, mail order and library supply services in the United Kingdom, which has an annual turnover of £74 million...
bookshop in Broad Street, Oxford
Broad Street, Oxford
Broad Street is a wide street in central Oxford, England, located just north of the old city wall.The street is known for its bookshops, including the original Blackwell's bookshop at number 50, located here due to the University...
created a large room in 1966 under Trinity College land and named it the "Norrington Room" after him. As well as publishing, with professors H. F. Lowry and F. L. Mulhauser, an edition of the poems of Arthur Hugh Clough
Arthur Hugh Clough
Arthur Hugh Clough was an English poet, an educationalist, and the devoted assistant to ground-breaking nurse Florence Nightingale...
in 1951, he wrote Blackwell's, 1879–1979: the history of a family firm, published posthumously in 1983. Retiring from Trinity in 1970, he became Warden of Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
until 1974. He was made an honorary fellow
Honorary title (academic)
Honorary titles in academia may be conferred on persons in recognition of contributions by a non-employee or by an employee beyond regular duties...
of Trinity, St Cross College
St Cross College, Oxford
St Cross College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is an all-graduate college, sharing attractive, traditional-style buildings on a central site in St Giles', just south of Pusey Street...
, and Wolfson College
Wolfson College, Oxford
Wolfson College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Located in north Oxford along the River Cherwell, Wolfson is an all-graduate college with over sixty governing body fellows, in addition to both research and junior research fellows. It caters to a wide range of...
. He became an officer of the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
in 1962. Norrington died in the John Radcliffe Hospital
John Radcliffe Hospital
The John Radcliffe Hospital is a large tertiary teaching hospital in Oxford, England.It is the main teaching hospital for Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University. As such, it is a well-developed centre of medical research. It also incorporates the Medical School of the University of Oxford....
, Oxford, on May 21, 1982.