Norma Lancaster (26 Apr 1951 - 10 Mar 2024)

Norma Elaine Lancaster was born on 26th April 1951 at Townleys Hospital in Bolton, Lancashire. An only child of George & Louie Smith, she grew up surrounded by animals and her immense life-long love of greyhounds and horses began here. When at school Norma enjoyed swimming (she was a good swimmer!), home economics and English and her Grandad Norman was the caretaker there. Norma loved growing up in the company of her grandparents, Norman & Polly Dowbekin, spending long summers with them on holiday in Devon. Her grandma's cooking was famous for being extremely yummy and Norma's favourite dishes were her homemade stews and rice pudding! Norma did love her food!

Norma's upbringing with her parents was centred around greyhound racing and working together with her dad and mum, she helped train other people's greyhounds to race. Her love of horses (Norma rode from the age of 7 years) also led Norma to embark on a career working in South Wales, at the age of 21 with the famous Showjumpers David Broome and brothers, John & Michael Whittaker. Norma really enjoyed this and often recalled times of happiness with fellow groomsmen & women there, including the celebration of her 21st birthday in "the bungalow".

Her love of all animals often led to people fondly naming her Mrs Dolittle in later life, but it brought about so much to her life and made her the character that everyone fondly remembers. It led to amazing lifelong friendships with Louie & Paddy at the stables, Brian & Yvonne through greyhound racing. Norma also met both her husbands, Bobby Heywood (Lisa's Dad) and George Lancaster (Mark's Dad) on the greyhound tracks through their mutual love of greyhound racing, Norma went on to have 2 children, Lisa, born in 1982 and Mark born in 1986. Widowed both times Norma went through lots of heartbreak but stayed strong for her children and her furr babies. She would walk for miles always believing that this is what helped her through her saddest times, this and her friends and multiple furr babies (Norma never just had 1 dog!)

From 2009 when her first grandchild Ellie was born, Norma also gained a new title, that of Nanna Orm (the grandchildren could never pronounce the "N"). A much-loved Nanna to Ellie, Lacey, Alex, Ruby, Thomas, Levi and Tommy, Norma would bob them on the back of horses from a young age passing on her love of animals to the next generation. Norma will always be remembered by her grandchildren for this, her funky combinations/cooking at meal times, her early morning 5am getups and the fact that her pets usually hogged the sofa and you had to move a dog to try and sit down, amongst many other things.

For her children and grandchildren, friends and acquaintances the world will never be the same without this lovely lady. Norma was unique, she would help anyone, had a kind heart, would give her last penny to anyone who needed it and although she was little (only 5ft) she was strong, both mentally and physically! She was inspirational to so many and her legacy lives on in many of us. Our beautiful Mum and Nanna we miss you beyond words, love you beyond measure. We're thankful you're no longer in pain and suffering and we really hope that if there is a heaven you've been reunited with our dads, your mum, Tommy and your many pets who you missed so dearly. Its not goodbye, we know you are watching over us and your memory will live on in everything we do.