Despite having two artificial legs following a railway accident, Norman Croucher decided to seek adventure in the mountains, and he certainly found it. Now, whether you require an amusing lunch-time or evening  of entertainment or an outstanding motivational speach at a conference, you can share his experiences.

Alongside people such as round-the-world yachtsman Chay Blyth and the World Motor Racing Champion, Jackie Stewart, Norman was chosen as a “Man of The Year” in 1971 and again in 1978 with Jimmy Savile and Brendan Foster.  In 1989, with Falklands veteran Simon Weston, he received a special Men of The Years award for continued achievement in celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of the scheme.  In 1979, he was chosen from nominees from 121 countries as one of only three people in the world to receive an International Award for Valour in sport that year.  Chris Bonington wrote of him: “there is no one like him, his extraorinary achievements have earned him a place in climbing history”.
His Climbs
Following training which included 900 miles walking from John O’Groats to Lands End, Norman climbed a score of mountains including the Matterhorn, the Eiger and Mont Blanc. In 1978 he led a successful expedition to the Peruvian Andes and in 1981 reached the top of his first Homalayan peak, White Needle in Kashmir.  In Argentina the same year, he faced disaster as his left artificial leg broke. Yet, on one leg he set out to climb a mountain 16,801 feet.  In 1982, he became one of only two Britons to have climbed Muztagh Ata in China. His companion became snow blind and ill and their decent in bad weather makes a very interesting tale.

More recaently he has climbed Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (not the easy way), Cotopaxi in Ecuador, Mount Kenya, Alpamayo in Peru and Europes highest, Elburs in Russia.  All of this has required considerable organisation, including raising sponsorship, and as a Cornishman, he regards his best fundraising achievement as clinching a deal with a cider manufacturer whos motto is “Legless but Smiling”
His Lectures
Norman has lectured to a wide variety of audiences of up to three and a half thousand people, all over the British Isles, Europe and as far a field as Kenya. Audiences have included Rotary, Women’s Institutes, medical and literary societies and a vast range of companies. Humorous, interesting, motivational and always entertaining.