Norman Lumsden

Norman Lumsden (16 September 1906 – 28 November 2001) was an English opera singer and actor. He first came to prominence during the 1940s and 1950s in several operas by composer Benjamin Britten, often performing at Covent Garden and the Aldeburgh and Glyndebourne festivals. He later began a television acting career during the 1970s appearing mostly in small roles in TV dramas. He branched out into films during the 1980s, notably appearing in Clint Eastwood's 1990 film White Hunter, Black Heart. He is particularly remembered for his portrayal of J. R. Hartley in the 1983 Yellow Pages advert Fly Fishing by J. R. Hartley, in 2015 voted fifth most popular British TV advertisement.

Early life and education Born Norman Thompson in Chelsea in 1906, Lumsden was the son of a butler. He originally worked as a commercial artist, designing book jackets for the publishers Hodder & Stoughton, including those for Leslie Charteris's The Saint series. After suffering a bout of emphysema he took up singing on the advice of his doctor to strengthen his lungs. He was taught by the basses Robert Radford and Norman Allin.

Early career Lumsden's singing career began before World War II with singing popular classics on the wireless and performing in oratorio around Britain. His first radio broadcast was for the BBC in the 1930s, during which he sang Negro spirituals and Czechoslovak songs by Dvořák. It was at this time that he changed his surname to Lumsden. In 1945 he gave an acclaimed debut recital at London's Wigmore Hall, performing arias from Handel and Verdi, and taking small roles at Sadler's Wells. His film appearances were sparse but included roles in Runners (1983), A Handful of Dust (1988), and White Hunter Black Heart (1990) with Clint Eastwood.

He found fame late in life, through the Yellow Pages 1983 TV advert in which Lumsden played J. R. Hartley, a fictional character in search of an out of print book called Fly Fishing by 'J. R. Hartley'. The advertisement is one of the most popular ever made in Britain, and remained a part of popular culture long after it ceased to be shown.

Death In 2001 Lumsden contracted shingles and died from subsequent infection at the age of 95. After his death the "Fly Fishing by J. R. Hartley" advert was rebroadcast as a tribute.