14th April, 1929 – 19th March, 2018)
Published in Windlesora 34 (2018)
© WLHG
Norman Edwin Oxley was born on 14 April 1929 in a Yorkshire mining village. A place at a grammar school allowed him to study and develop a passion for history. He became a teacher and moved to London. After retirement he came to Windsor, and devoted himself to the local history of the town. The museum collection in Tinkers Lane needed volunteers, and he soon found himself assisting Judith Hunter with the museum collection.
When the Friends of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead were formed he Norman promoting, he immediately signed on, and became their second chairman, serving for five years until 2002. During his time as chairman, he vigorously campaigned for a museum in Windsor.
He continued to involve himself with local history, writing a book on AY Nutt, architect and artist, and Chapter Surveyor to the Dean of St George’s, serving three monarchs. He managed to get a blue plaque put up on AY Nutt’s Windsor residence.
In October 2008 he joined the Windsor Local History Group, where he became an active member. He contributed to the Windlesora journal with articles about George Moore Henton, A Y Nutt, the Fountain in Osborne Road, Windsor Museum, and the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. When the museum opened he became a volunteer, until he became too frail.
Norman died on 19 March 2018. He will be missed by all.
Dr Brigitte Mitchell
Norman Oxley – an appreciation
When Norman and Beth Oxley moved to Windsor on his retirement as deputy head of a Hounslow school, they visited an exhibition of historical artifacts in the Guildhall Chamber. Organised by the Curator, the artifacts were then housed at Tinkers Lane, having been moved from the Maidenhead Room in the Guildhall. For Norman, the exhibition ignited an interest and passion for Windsor’s history. He joined the Windsor Local History Group and was a very active member of the Friends of RBWM, particularly in raising money and an awareness of the need for a Museum in the town.
Norman was also a Steward at St.George’s Chapel and the Museum in the Guildhall. He took great pleasure in guiding visitors round the building. Norman was a great family man and a good friend and his wisdom will be sadly missed.
Beryl Hedges
Any time spent with Norman was guaranteed to be fun. He had a wicked sense of humour and in meetings he would do something to try to make me laugh. He often popped into see me at work until sadly he became too frail to do so. Norman’s smile was infectious, and his eyes were the sort that twinkled, especially when he was about to be ‘outrageous’. Our monthly meetings are not the same without him.
Carol Dixon-Smith
Windsor Local History Group 