Norman Wisdom

Sir Norman Wisdom OBE (born 4 February 1915) is a retired English comedian, singer, songwriter, actor and musician. Norman Wisdom was born in the Marylebone district of London. His parents were Frederick, a chauffeur and Maud Wisdom (née Targett), a dressmaker who often worked for West End theatres. The couple married in Marylebone in 1912. Norman Wisdom's elder brother, Fred, was born in 1913. The family resided at 91 Fernhead Road, London W9, w... more

Sir Norman Wisdom OBE (born 4 February 1915) is a retired English comedian, singer, songwriter, actor and musician. Norman Wisdom was born in the Marylebone district of London. His parents were Frederick, a chauffeur and Maud Wisdom (née Targett), a dressmaker who often worked for West End theatres. The couple married in Marylebone in 1912. Norman Wisdom's elder brother, Fred, was born in 1913. The family resided at 91 Fernhead Road, London W9, where they slept in one room. After a period in a children's home in Deal, Kent, Wisdom ran away when he was 11 but returned to become an errand boy with a grocery store on leaving school at 13. After this he walked (by his own account) to Cardiff, where he became a cabinboy in the Merchant Navy. He also worked as a coal-miner, waiter and pageboy. He then enlisted as a drummer boy in the 10th Royal Hussars of the British Army and in 1930 was posted to Lucknow, India as a bandsman. There he gained an education certificate, rode horses, was the... less