Gilbert Smith was… Almost as much a part of that famous racing marque as old Pa Norton used to be.

is 60 years since Norton managing director Gilbert Smith walked out of the door at Bracebridge Street for the last time, having been in the employ of the company since 1916, when he joined, aged 15, as an office boy. Smith became the fourth member of Norton staff, and on his resignation was managing director of Norton Motors Ltd and R T Shelley Ltd. Writing in in 1961, Geoff Duke said: “Gilbert Smith was… Almost as much a