4 November 2025
Today (Tuesday 4 November), iconic music venue and youth charity Roundhouse held a memorial celebration to remember its trail-blazing founder and former President, Sir Torquil Norman CBE, who passed away in March this year.
Sir Torquil Norman CBE (11 April 1933 – 19 March 2025) was a businessman, philanthropist, toymaker and the Founder and former Chair and President of the Roundhouse.
Torquil studied Law and Economics at Cambridge and Harvard, after which he completed his National Service in the Fleet Air Arm – he would continue to fly vintage planes throughout his life. He worked as a banker for over a decade in New York and London before joining Berwick Timor Toys. He founded Bluebird Toys plc in 1979. Within 10 years, the company was one of the largest in the UK, with flagship toys such as the Big Yellow Teapot House and Polly Pocket becoming household names. Bluebird licensed its brands to US manufacturer Mattel, which eventually bought the company in 1998.
Torquil and Anne Norman founded the Norman Trust in 1983. In 1996, Torquil bought the then-derelict Roundhouse. He set about raising over £30M to carry out a much-needed rebuild. Following 10 years of persistent hard work, the Roundhouse reopened in 2006 as a trail-blazing music and performing arts venue and pioneering creative centre for young people to learn new skills and gain experience.
In 2007, Torquil stood down as Chair of the Roundhouse and became President. He was awarded the CBE in 2002, and a Knighthood in 2007 for his exceptional services to the arts and disadvantaged young people.
Sir Torquil was remembered in a ceremony at the Roundhouse today, featuring tributes from family members, Roundhouse CEO and Artistic Director Marcus Davey and Jenny McIntosh, Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall. Poet and Roundhouse youth programme alumni Rakaya Fetuga also performed a new work for the occasion.
Roundhouse CEO and Artistic Director Marcus Davey CBE, said: “Torquil was a one-off, a true inspiration, full of incredible business acumen and kindness, in equal measure.
“He used everything he had – his time, money, connections and influence – to give young people a better, more hopeful life. He worked tirelessly, persistently and relentlessly towards his vision of rebuilding the Roundhouse as a creative centre for young people and a world class performance venue. He created something powerful and permanent not just for one generation but for generations, and generations and generations to come.
“His determination, creativity, imagination, mirthful joy and love, live on in every one of us, without Torquil, none of us would be here.”
Caspar Norman, Roundhouse co-founder and Trustee, said: “It was at the Roundhouse that Torquil found a space big enough for his ambition, his generosity and his hospitality. And he found the Roundhouse gave him so much more in return, and he was truly thankful for it. He may have stepped down as Chair a long time ago, but everyone involved takes some of the Roundhouse with them, and leaves a part of themselves with it.”
Rakaya Fetuga, Roundhouse youth programme alumni, said: “As one of the many young people who have benefited greatly from the Roundhouse and Torquil’s vision, it was a really special, full circle moment for me to speak at Torquil’s memorial. It’s really an honor to be able to come together with his family and some of his closest colleagues and celebrate a very impactful life.”