SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

I was very sad to here the death this Monday of Sir Norman Wisdom he was a truly funny likable man ,and became a true legend in his own time ,i carnt say rest in peace Norman he will be busy making god laugh

Saw him a few years ago outside the Radisson hotel in Leeds waving to a Variety Club Sunshine bus - certainly brought sunshine to my life.

I remember many years ago Sir Norman Wisdom was in Leeds he saw someone on a scooter with the Leeds reg NW.The story goes he bought the guy a brand new scooter so he could have the registration number on the other one.    

Half heard this on th 6pm news on the car radio,didn't quite believe it.The president of Albania says the country in in mourning for old Norm.BBC website tonight:-Sir Norman became a cult figure in Albania, where his were the only films from the West allowed in the former communist state.Albanian Ambassador Zef Mazi said news of Sir Norman's death was dominating the news channels in his native country."After Charlie Chaplin, he was the biggest comedy star in Albania. I still remember his character Pitkin and his boss Mr Grimsdale," he said.

On reflection-( I never really liked his films etc,)it might have just beena clever counter move by the Albanians' to show just how much they would miss good hard line poverty stricken communism,comply or suffer !

What a fantastic talent Sir Norman was, Musician, Actor, Singer more than a useful Boxer, Acrobat and holder of the most infectious laugh ever heard.What do we get now? cloned wannabees queuing up on X factor to receive insults from equally non talented 'Judges'

We have lost most of the great comedians most of the ones on stage now i dont understand. I have always liked a joke but now i dont think i am on the same planet when it comes to jokes, or is it just me?

I was interested to hear that Charles Chaplin said that Norman Wisdom was his favourite clown - high praise indeed!As a side note - didn't Charles Chaplin play Leeds in the distant past?

compare him to some of the current crop of wasters( Brand R, Corwen C, etc ) and you realise how good you had to be way back when

Leeds Hippo wrote: I was interested to hear that Charles Chaplin said that Norman Wisdom was his favourite clown - high praise indeed!As a side note - didn't Charles Chaplin play Leeds in the distant past? He came across in interviews as a nice chap, but I never found him funny - but then I never found Chaplin funny either. I like Buster Keaton and I like Laurel and Hardy.As for today's comedians - I like Ricky Gervais - that's about it really.