Councillor Norman Wilson Haskins Royal Army Pay Corps, Mayor of Weston-Super-Mare and Chairman of Woodspring District Council
Norman Wilson Haskins
The Man Norman Wilson Haskins was born on Wednesday 13th November 1918, just two days after the signing of the Armistice, in Bristol, son of Fred, an Engineer fitter and Mary Jane nee Gay. He had one older brother Frederick William 1908-1986. The 1921 census show the family living at 126 Hillside Road, St George.
In 1928 when Norman was aged 10, the family moved to Weston-Super-Mare as Fred had taken over the Cabot Hotel on Knightstone Road (still a hotel in 2025 and part of the Wetherspoons chain). Norman was educated at Weston College and Colston’s School, Bristol, becoming a member of the Old Colstonian’s Society. After leaving school he was articled for three years with the firm of Saturley, Garner & Co Estate Agents and Auctioneers at 24 The Boulevard.
Following his training however, he returned to the Cabot Hotel working as Manager with his father. He also became a Rotarian and was a keen yachtsman, serving as Secretary of the Weston Bay Yacht Club.
The 1939 Register shows Norman and his parents living at the Cabot Hotel 13/15 Knightstone Road, Weston with Fred as the Proprietor and Norman, aged 21 as the Manager. Following the outbreak of World War II in September, he enlisted into the Royal Army Pay Corps with service number 7662390 rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant and during the first quarter of 1941, married Winifred D Hopkins in Leeds. They had three children, Graham N born in 1941, Wendy Anne 1943 and Alan David 1945. Norman served at home during the war and was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
Following the war he returned as Manager, later a Director of the Cabot Hotel and at some time divorced Winifred and remarried Renee Moss during the last quarter of 1953 in Weston. In 1955 Norman applied for a licence to sell alcohol in his hotel, which at that point it could not do. The restrictions were severe and a reflection of thinking at the time, despite Weston being a holiday resort. He also became president of Weston Hotels’ and Restaurants’ Association.
In 1928 when Norman was aged 10, the family moved to Weston-Super-Mare as Fred had taken over the Cabot Hotel on Knightstone Road (still a hotel in 2025 and part of the Wetherspoons chain). Norman was educated at Weston College and Colston’s School, Bristol, becoming a member of the Old Colstonian’s Society. After leaving school he was articled for three years with the firm of Saturley, Garner & Co Estate Agents and Auctioneers at 24 The Boulevard.
Following his training however, he returned to the Cabot Hotel working as Manager with his father. He also became a Rotarian and was a keen yachtsman, serving as Secretary of the Weston Bay Yacht Club.
The 1939 Register shows Norman and his parents living at the Cabot Hotel 13/15 Knightstone Road, Weston with Fred as the Proprietor and Norman, aged 21 as the Manager. Following the outbreak of World War II in September, he enlisted into the Royal Army Pay Corps with service number 7662390 rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant and during the first quarter of 1941, married Winifred D Hopkins in Leeds. They had three children, Graham N born in 1941, Wendy Anne 1943 and Alan David 1945. Norman served at home during the war and was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
Following the war he returned as Manager, later a Director of the Cabot Hotel and at some time divorced Winifred and remarried Renee Moss during the last quarter of 1953 in Weston. In 1955 Norman applied for a licence to sell alcohol in his hotel, which at that point it could not do. The restrictions were severe and a reflection of thinking at the time, despite Weston being a holiday resort. He also became president of Weston Hotels’ and Restaurants’ Association.
Defence Medal. War Medal 1939-45. Silver Jubilee Medal 1977.
In the local elections of May 1956, Norman became a Conservative Councillor for the West Ward on the Weston-Super-Mare Borough Council. The seat was uncontested as the Labour candidates could not take time off work to attend the afternoon council meetings! He was re-elected in 1959 and again returned unopposed in May 1962. He became Chairman of the Highways and Works Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Tradings and Undertakings Committee, and a governor of Weston Technical College and St Johns Secondary Modern School.
The same year, 1962 he was elected as Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Weston-Super-Mare and on Wednesday 28th May 1963, in the Town Hall Assembly Rooms, as Mayor for the municipal year 1963-64. At his election he was described as ‘Fair, Firm and Friendly’. It was noted that despite Weston being a tourist area, Norman was the first hotelier to be elected as Mayor and representing the industry. Following the ceremony, he presided over 200 guests at the Winter Gardens Pavilion for a Mayoral lunch followed by a reception and ball in the evening. In March1964 he met Harold Wilson MP, who as Leader of the Opposition addressed Rotarians in Weston. Following his year as Mayor Norman was elected to the Aldermanic bench.
In 1974 following local government reorganisation the Borough Council was absorbed onto the newly created Woodspring District Council (WDC) and Norman re-elected onto the new authority. On 4th May 1977 he became Chairman, having the honour of greeting her Majesty the Queen during the celebrations and her visit to the town in August on the occasion of Her Majesty’s Silver Jubilee. As Chairman, he was awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977.
In January 1978 Norman, together with the Chief Executive and Treasurer of WDC, attended a feisty public meeting to explain why £2.5 million was to be spent on new centralised offices for the authority. However, in 1996 the county of Avon was abolished and Woodspring District Council was renamed North Somerset Council taking on county level functions from the former County Council; having only been in existence for only 22 years.
By 1982 Norman, now aged 64 was still manager of the Cabot Court Hotel and appears to have lived there for the rest of his life as his son Graham had taken over the general management. Norman died on 8th September 2001 aged 82 and Renee on 16th October 2008.
The same year, 1962 he was elected as Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Weston-Super-Mare and on Wednesday 28th May 1963, in the Town Hall Assembly Rooms, as Mayor for the municipal year 1963-64. At his election he was described as ‘Fair, Firm and Friendly’. It was noted that despite Weston being a tourist area, Norman was the first hotelier to be elected as Mayor and representing the industry. Following the ceremony, he presided over 200 guests at the Winter Gardens Pavilion for a Mayoral lunch followed by a reception and ball in the evening. In March1964 he met Harold Wilson MP, who as Leader of the Opposition addressed Rotarians in Weston. Following his year as Mayor Norman was elected to the Aldermanic bench.
In 1974 following local government reorganisation the Borough Council was absorbed onto the newly created Woodspring District Council (WDC) and Norman re-elected onto the new authority. On 4th May 1977 he became Chairman, having the honour of greeting her Majesty the Queen during the celebrations and her visit to the town in August on the occasion of Her Majesty’s Silver Jubilee. As Chairman, he was awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977.
In January 1978 Norman, together with the Chief Executive and Treasurer of WDC, attended a feisty public meeting to explain why £2.5 million was to be spent on new centralised offices for the authority. However, in 1996 the county of Avon was abolished and Woodspring District Council was renamed North Somerset Council taking on county level functions from the former County Council; having only been in existence for only 22 years.
By 1982 Norman, now aged 64 was still manager of the Cabot Court Hotel and appears to have lived there for the rest of his life as his son Graham had taken over the general management. Norman died on 8th September 2001 aged 82 and Renee on 16th October 2008.
Norman Haskin's World War II Medal Index Card, showing award of the Defence and War Medal 1939-45.
Norman Wilson Haskins Chairman Woodspring District Council 1977-78
The Story The medals awarded to Norman Wilson Haskins were acquired following an unusual sequence of events.
The Past Chairman of Woodspring District Council’s Consort Jewel, awarded to Norman’s wife Renee was seen on e-bay during 2025, it was of interest as Norman had been Chairman during the municipal year of 1977-78 and further checking revealed he had been awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977 in that capacity, a sub-theme of this collection.
Enquiries were made to see if Norman’s jewel was available, but sadly not. The past consort jewel remained on E-Bay for some weeks until eventually, a check of ancestry revealed Norman’s World War II Medal entitlement as the Defence and War Medals, these being unnamed as would have been the SJM 77. In view of these three being his likely only medal entitlement, Renee’s jewel was acquired following an offer made.
Ancestry provided much detail on Norman, but especially so the newspaper archives, revealing numerous articles from when he had, in addition to being Chairman of WDC, also been Mayor of the former Borough of Weston Super Mare in the 1960s – a pleasing discovery.
This led to enquiries being made with Weston Super Mare Town Council and a local Councillor and Past Mayor of Weston, John Crockford-Hawley, who were extremely helpful providing further information, including a list of the Past Mayors of Weston and a good quality photograph of Norman as Chairman with Her Majesty in 1977.
Coincidentally, the Past Mayors list also included Richard German, whose Past Chairman’s jewel was already held in this collection but without a picture of him, which was soon rectified by Cllr Crockford-Hawley.
Another interesting story of a man who served his country in differing ways.
The Past Chairman of Woodspring District Council’s Consort Jewel, awarded to Norman’s wife Renee was seen on e-bay during 2025, it was of interest as Norman had been Chairman during the municipal year of 1977-78 and further checking revealed he had been awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977 in that capacity, a sub-theme of this collection.
Enquiries were made to see if Norman’s jewel was available, but sadly not. The past consort jewel remained on E-Bay for some weeks until eventually, a check of ancestry revealed Norman’s World War II Medal entitlement as the Defence and War Medals, these being unnamed as would have been the SJM 77. In view of these three being his likely only medal entitlement, Renee’s jewel was acquired following an offer made.
Ancestry provided much detail on Norman, but especially so the newspaper archives, revealing numerous articles from when he had, in addition to being Chairman of WDC, also been Mayor of the former Borough of Weston Super Mare in the 1960s – a pleasing discovery.
This led to enquiries being made with Weston Super Mare Town Council and a local Councillor and Past Mayor of Weston, John Crockford-Hawley, who were extremely helpful providing further information, including a list of the Past Mayors of Weston and a good quality photograph of Norman as Chairman with Her Majesty in 1977.
Coincidentally, the Past Mayors list also included Richard German, whose Past Chairman’s jewel was already held in this collection but without a picture of him, which was soon rectified by Cllr Crockford-Hawley.
Another interesting story of a man who served his country in differing ways.
A Past Chairman of Woodspring District Council Jewel.
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Renee Haskins Past Chairman's Consort Jewel
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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with Councillor Norman Wilson Haskins on the occasion of Majesty's visit to Weston-Super-Mare during the Silver Jubilee. August 1977.
Norman and Renee Haskins 1963
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Norman Haskins 1978
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Cabot Court Hotel 2025. Now part of the Wetherspoons chain.
With thanks to Weston-Super-Mare Town Council, South West Heitage Trust and Councillor David Crockford-Hawley for their invaluable assistance.
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Silver Jubilee Medal 1977: Unnamed as awarded.
- Past Chairman's Consort Jewel: RENEE HASKINS 1977-78
This page last updated 27 Oct 25
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