Paddy Norton 1968 to 1976

The great Paddy Norton on his 60th birthday pictured with his wife Bernadette and three daughters

A truly outstanding rugby player and all-round sportsman, Paddy Norton spent eight years at St Mary’s before going on to enjoy a fine playing career which took him around the world.

Born and raised in Dartford, Paddy attended Our Lady’s Primary School before arriving at St Mary’s in September 1968 at the same time as another outstanding player, the hooker Steve Peet.

Paddy, on the right, with hooker Steve Peet, left, and rugby master Rod Turner after the pair were selected to play for London Schools against Japan Schools in 1976.

Paddy was a brilliant player, capable of playing at either stand-off, centre or full-back and, like a number of other St Mary’s boys from the 70s, cut his teeth in men’s rugby with Askeans where he enjoyed great success before moving on to Blackheath where he played with, and especially against, some of the best players in the country. He also excelled at the sevens game where his low centre of gravity, world class handling and deft feet were a huge asset.

After leaving St Mary’s in the summer of 1976, Paddy took a job with a Lloyds broker that specialised in insuring a large percentage of the Greek merchant fleet.

In 1985, Paddy married his Sydney-born wife, Bernadette Daley and the couple lived in London for two years while Paddy wound up his rugby career:

“Through rugby I travelled extensively all over the world for next to nothing, playing for Blackheath, Askeans, Kent, Saltires, Anglo Irish and Lloyds of London. It was a great time and I loved my rugby,” he says.

The line-ups against Japan Schools showing Paddy at full-back and Steve Peet at hooker

In 1987, Paddy and Bernadette emigrated to Australia living in Sydney where Paddy worked for three different money brokers over an eleven-year period before deciding, at 40, to return to the insurance industry by which time the couple had three beautiful daughters – Hannah, Mary-Anne and Carmel, who have all grown up with a great love of sport, particularly excelling at netball and swimming.

In 2013, Paddy set up on his own with a brokerage that he still runs. Several years ago, he and Bernadette sold their property in Sydney to live in the picturesque country town of Bowral, about 70 miles south of Sydney in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales.

Paddy in action for Blackheath at the Rectory Field against Swansea

The town is famous for raising Donald Bradman and Mary Poppins writer, PL Travers.

Paddy describes himself as ‘a golf tragic’ who plays at least three times a week with an impressive handicap between 8 and 12. He still loves all sport and continues to follow Charlton Athletic, which makes him even more of a legend in my eyes!

He enjoys reading crime and biographies and loves all music but is especially partial to some Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, AC/DC and Van Morrison.

Paddy looks back on his time at St Mary’s with great affection and, along with Jim Staples, Steve Peet and two late, great stand-offs, John Shanahan and Kevin Hedderman, is among the very finest to have represented the school at rugby.