Harleston fish and chip shop owner remembered

A tribute has been paid to a popular and well-known Harleston former fish and chip shop owner.

Montague Norman, known as ‘Monty’, died on March 30, aged 79, following a career in the food trade.

Having joined his older brother on a delivery run at six years old, Monty quickly found himself closely acquainted with their cargo at the side of the road, thanks to some youthful exuberance.

“They had been transporting fresh fish in a horse and cart, and his brother was going too fast and tipped the whole cart over,” said Monty’s partner, Rosie Riches.

Despite his baptism of fire, it did little to put him off.

“He came from a family of fishmongers and went to Lowestoft fish market four days a week, from the age of 17 until a few days before he died,” said Rosie.

“There was a fire at his fish and chip shop in Redenhall Road in 2011 and, after that, he just sold fresh fish, which gave him time to take his first ever holiday.

“He liked dancing, music and horses, but the thing he enjoyed most was people, and being around them. We were once at a train station in Swanage and someone came up to him and said ‘you look a lot like the fish and chip shop man from Harleston,’ and they had a chat.

“After they left, I asked him who they were. He said, ‘no idea, but I can remember their usual order is a battered sausage and chips’.

“He loved being around people and was fondly remembered by so many. He fell ill very quickly with cancer, and died quite suddenly.”

A funeral service will be held in St John’s Church in Broad Street, Harleston, on May 2 at 11am.