Ronald Norman

Sir Ronald Norman, (born 29 April 1937) is a British businessman and author. Sir Ron received an OBE in 1986 for services to urban regeneration in Newcastle and was honoured with a knighthood in 1995 for services to Teesside.

Personal life The son of a postman, he won a scholarship to Dulwich College He then studied engineering at King's College London, graduating in 1960 with first-class honours in Civil Engineering and winning the University Boxing Championship. His book Odd Man Out in the Alps tells the story of his journey over two summers trekking 400 miles through the French Alps in little more than shorts and sandals.

Companies Sir Ron's early work as an engineer included the construction of the famous hyperbolic paraboloid roof on the Commonwealth Institute in Kensington. From civil engineering he moved into management consultancy, general construction, property development and urban renewal. Eventually, he launched his own development company committed to setting higher standards of development, in particular by respecting local architectural traditions. Chairman of the Teesside Development Corporation