ONE of the founders of Southampton’s enduringly successful boat show has died.
Norman Kemish, who was one of the best-known faces in the city’s commercial life over the past 50 years, died on Saturday aged 89.
As well as co-founding the ever-popular boat show in the 1960s, Norman enjoyed a long and varied career which saw him found a number of businesses, become Tunisia’s honorary consul in Southampton and enjoy active roles in a number of local organisations.
He was born in 1924, the younger of two sons of a dockworker in Southampton, and grew up in Freemantle.
Aside from a stint in the Army during the Second World War, during which he served in Malaysia, Norman stayed close to his home city throughout his life and worked to raise the city’s profile.
He helped to found a number of firms, including electrical contractors Gale-Kemish and Company Limited and exhibition organisers JE Artman and Partners, and was a member of both the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary club.
Norman is best-known in the city for founding the Southampton Boat Show alongside Arthur Gale in 1969.
He organised it for more than 25 years, and the event has continued to grow since with thousands of people flocking to the marine spectacular each year.
Outside of business and the boat show he still had a number of different interests – from being a prominent member of the Southampton Poultry Club, to being a semi-professional entertainer, actor and singer, and a writer.
He performed many lead roles in Gilbert and Sullivan performances with the Winchester Operatic Society, was a pantomime dame and compered in tours of northern clubs.
He was also Tunisia’s honorary consul in Southampton for more than two decades, service which led to him being presented with a special silver and amber ornament by the north African country’s ambassador to the UK.
His service to Southampton and business in the city was also recognised with a City of Southampton Award in 2008.
He died on Saturday evening at a nursing home in Hedge End.
His wife, Joan, died last August.
His daughter, Kathryn Kemish, said: “I have already received some wonderful messages stating what a truly remarkable man he was.
“It was said how much he will always be remembered and what an indelible mark he made on the world.
“In his case, there’s no doubt that what can sometimes be clichés are irrefutably true.”
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