Scalpay upbringing​ key to a 40 year career

As frontline presenter on STV News North – and Grampian Television before – he has been at the heart of some of the region’s most momentous and tragic events, having been thrust into the spotlight of the television camera and journalism from a tender age.

It’s been a story of commitment, of professionalism and calm authority - and one which, he says himself, was directly influenced from his island upbringing.

But the final curtain has now been drawn on that part of his career as Norman said his last ever “good night” as STV North News presenter last Friday.

The timing was far from coincidental. It also marked the end of the programme from Aberdeen, with STV bosses having announced months ago the axing of a dedicated programme for the north on commercial grounds, a move which has been widely criticised.

With his own personal milestone fast approaching, Norman took the decision to step away all together.

“If I had stayed another year that would have been 40 years, having joined Grampian in 1987, so a decent innings,” he said. “I would have liked to have stayed another year, but circumstances changed so I decided to go slightly earlier on my own accord.”

That would suggest, like many others, he is far from enamoured at the prospect of a diminution of coverage for the north-east and the Highlands and Islands, with all editorial decisions now emanating from Glasgow, albeit with regional opt-ins.

“Like every other media company STV is under pressure like never before,” he said. “There are commercial reasons why STV decided to pull the plug on the programme from Aberdeen, despite many people being against it, internally and externally. But the regulator Ofcom decided it was in the company’s best interest to pursue the plan.

“I accept the company’s reasons – but I’m not so sure the audience accepts the company’s reasons.” Scalpach diplomacy at its finest.

When Norman joined Grampian back in 1987 as a trainee, it was a different world, certainly in terms of broadcasting. While still in school he was a regular fixture at Radio nan Eilean in Stornoway, a connection which continued through his college days.

“So when I went for a trainee role at Grampian they could see I had some experience in broadcasting so that probably increased my chances,” he said.

Initially he was taken on for a two year traineeship, but the rise was dizzying. Within three years, he was co-presenter on the flagship news programme.

“At that time you were across both desks, Gaelic and English,” he said. “And in 1990 the head of news decided that I should try and present in English, so that’s when I started assisting John Duncanson in presenting North Tonight.”

Asked to elaborate further on his rather rapid rise through the ranks, he laughs: “I would definitely call it a steep learning curve!

“I was maybe too young. I was 23 at the time and I thought: wow, this is a huge responsibility. But people were great back then. Your colleagues had time for you, made sure you were ready and there was all sorts of advice from experienced heads and those in senior roles.

“Alasdair Gracie was head of news back then and I think he could see there was a decent pedigree from the Hebrides in the form of Angus Peter Campbell, Donnie B Macleod, Anne Mackenzie, Donald John Macdonald. So maybe he thought he could trust me and I was thrown in at the deep end.

“It took a bit of persuasion and encouragement but I was determined to see it through. I saw it as an opportunity and despite my own initial fears I decided to give it my best shot.”

Many, of course, will remember the old days of Grampian Television with great fondness.

What it lacked in terms of slick presentation and glitz, it more than made up for in personality and in understanding its regional identity, and responsibility. It was also hugely committed to Gaelic in the early days – remarkably so for a station that had to survive in the cut and thrust of a commercial environment.

But by 2006 Grampian was no more – having been taken over by STV.

“Again that was a commercial decision we weren’t privy to, but at least there was a commitment that news in the north of Scotland would continue and the news centres in Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness would continue contributing.

“The market was changing. Advertising was failing so companies had to merge to survive and that’s what happened with STV and Grampian, like many others across the ITV network.”

As befits a journalism career spanning nearly 40 years, “there have been many incredible stories” – most notably, Piper Alpha, “a dreadful event”, and the BCCI banking disaster which saw Comhairle nan Eilean lose millions of pounds overnight in the early 1990s.

“More recently there was the storm that hit South Uist in 2005,” said Norman. “That really hit home because it was so close to home. It happened so quickly and the area was so familiar to my own island of Scalpay.

“I recognised the causeways and I thought that could have happened anywhere in the Hebrides. It had a personal effect on me. You get used to hard stories; to difficult stories. But when it’s close to home, it really does hit home.”

There have also been the lighter moments. For example, Norman remembers in his early days when it was his turn to introduce himself to the audience, he somehow froze.

“I just forgot to say it. John Duncanson beside me said: ‘Tell them who you are.’ It was a momentary lapse of concentration. On live TV, you’ve got to be on it. You’ve got to be super sharp and for that moment I just lost my concentration. You do share lighter moments behind the scenes. Grampian was a fantastic company to work for. People talk about the family spirit that was there and there was. It was like an extended family, even if a bit dysfunctional at times, like every family.

“But people looked out for one another and it was a real community. It was a real team effort. I suppose in a way those of us that experienced that carried on that vision and continued with those values when STV took over. I just hope we've passed on those values and those principles to others.”

That philosophical approach also directly correlates to his upbringing in Scalpay – which saw him move from one close-knit community, crofting and fishing, “every house in Scalpay had a boat”, to another one, albeit somewhat different, at Grampian.

“It was an idyllic childhood because you were part of a community. We were in the fortunate position that people, again, were looking out for you. People were extremely kind, but steely and firm with you at the same time.

“I think it gives you a great grounding for when you do move away and get on in life; you have the established principles from a young age of being part of a community and helping out. It’s very important because it gives you standards in life.”

At 59 and fit and healthy, Norman still has plenty to offer, but for the moment it’s just going to be a case of relaxing and taking stock, without the pressures of preparing for live television.

“I’m going to take a couple of months out, because it’s been an eventful few years personally and I think it’s best if I just take time for myself. I’m too young yet to hang up the microphone and grab a pipe and slippers and when the time is right it will be nice to get back to something. But I’m just going to appreciate taking a couple of months out and just taking it easy before I decide what to do.

“I’ve been back and forth from Scalpay regularly over the last few years for a number of reasons and, initially anyway, I’m going to split my time between Aberdeen and Scalpay. Like many islanders, the older you get, the more home has a pull, so I certainly intend being back more regularly than I have been.”

Certainly it’s going to be a well-deserved rest, even if his dulcet island tones will be missed by viewers, from Aberdeen up to to Shetland and across to his native isles.

“I’ve been really fortunate,” he reflects. “Reading some of the comments online in the last few days has been really humbling. It’s been a privilege being in people’s homes every evening presenting the news. What we did as Grampian, and later as STV, because we were from the area and from their communities, people trusted us. We represented their communities. I hope that will remain as a legacy from Grampian and continues as STV moves forward.”