‘THE MAN who adopted Bromsgrove’ Dennis Norton has received his British Empire Medal (BEM) at a prestigious ceremony at Worcester’s Guildhall.
Mr Norton, awarded the accolade in HM The Queen’s Birthday Honours List, was presented with his medal by the Deputy Lieutenant Patricia Bradbury in front of 100 invited guests.
The award was for ‘Services to the community and heritage in Bromsgrove’ and prior to the presentation the citation was read out detailing all his achievements.
Among them were him founding and building the Norton Collection which contains thousands of items relating to Bromsgrove and its history.
He also, through the Friends of the Norton Collection Charitable Trust, raised £155,000 to buy the former Bromsgrove Museum building and re-opened it as the Norton Collection Museum last year.
As well as that, Mr Norton was a founder member of the Bromsgrove Society, the Chairman of the Bromsgrove Retailers and Traders Association and he was part of the Save the Rec group which rescued the recreation ground near Asda when it was under threat.
And he served for years on Bromsgrove District Council, including on the planning committee and as leader of the authority.
In 2005 he quit politics for his greatest love – the Norton Collection – and the quest of reopening a museum in the town to house the artefacts.
Proceedings were punctuated by Bromsgrove Town Crier Kevin Ward and there was a special message from MP Sajid Javid who is also the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.
Mr Javid praised Mr Norton for all he had done for the communtity.
“Your story is a unique one and Bromsgrove would not be the same place without you.
“You have been instrumental in making the town a better place to live in and the museum will have an extraordinary impact on the town and its people for many years to come.”
Mr Norton said: “I could have received the medal at Buckingham Palace but I wanted it to be held here in the Guildhall so I could share it with the Bromsgrove community.
“I have had lots of support from people in the town over the years.”
The museum which is on Birmingham Road and is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.