Norman Forbes Green
7 July 1950 - 13 May 2020
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The CIPP was built on the goodwill, experience and tenacity of its early members who helped us take the fledgeling association into the magnificent organisation it is today. No one was more supportive and active in those early days than Norman, and it is with a heavy heart I write these brief notes to express my own and the organisation’s sadness at his passing. Norman was reliable and willing, two admirable traits which we put to good use. He read and digested anything and everything related to payroll, and we used his in-depth knowledge constantly as a major contribution to the updating of our study material for the ground-breaking Diploma in Payroll. From the outset Norman was a tutor for groups of students and, just as we all did, he enjoyed the annual weekend schools during the Easter period when we took students to various universities for revision courses. If anyone didn’t turn up, Norman volunteered to step in. Much of Norman’s contribution was behind the scenes, assisting with the moderation of test papers and helping to set the assignments for students. Whilst those of us working full-time within the CIPP appreciated Norman’s input, the general membership were unaware of the depth of his contribution. Away from payroll Norman enjoyed choral music and was a regular attendee at the Proms in the Royal Albert Hall where he was once afforded the honour of presenting an award. The unstinting support Norman willingly gave is an example to others in the payroll movement who now carry the banner at the forefront of furthering the cause of payroll interests. ‘Sadly missed’ does not get close to explaining the gap he leaves within the payroll movement.
I first met Norman in 2000, when I was hoping to meet payroll professionals and others who could help me understand UK employers and their links with (what is now) HMRC. It became obvious very quickly that Norman was exactly the sort of person I needed to help me plan improvements in policies, processes and services. He continued to prove that in spades over the next decade. He always demonstrated an unrivalled knowledge and appreciation of employers of all shapes and sizes, and of the different service providers and software that they rely on. I was privileged to count Norman as a loyal and charming friend – he was great fun – but like all the best friends he knew when to be supportive and when to challenge. He was passionate about the health of the payroll industry, and he never hesitated to tell me when he felt that HMRC could do better. But his criticisms were always constructive and helpful and focussed, and he achieved that partly by always taking time to understand the ‘culture’ of some key HMRC and Treasury officials – one of Norman’s many exceptional qualities. Rest in peace, Norman. You will be very sadly missed.
Gordon Cresswell
Don Macarthur
Norman Forbes Green (The funeral took place on 24 June at Medway Crematorium, Chatham, Kent.)
Norman was a much-loved member of the payroll community and had worked with the CIPP since 1994 supporting students through their qualifications. Having started his career as a programmer at Kent County Council, Norman held various roles and positions within the profession. He spent 35 years working for CGI (previously Logica) from 1981, where he finished his career as legislation and compliance manager in 2016. In addition to his full-time employment, Norman was committed to developing professionals within the industry and was a tutor on the CIPP’s Foundation Degree in Payroll Management. Throughout his many years of service, Norman provided support, guidance, and advice to the many students he had steered through our qualifications, as well as to members of the CIPP board.
In addition to the work he did for the CIPP qualifications team, Norman was an invaluable support to the CIPP’s policy team over the years, providing them with updates, putting forward members’ views and attending consultations on behalf of the CIPP. Norman also held the position of vice-chair of the payroll group for the British Computer Society from September 2013. He was highly regarded by HMRC and other government departments and agencies, as well as by all at the CIPP where he would act as a sounding board for early policy development and providing a technical insight into requirements of payroll software. The payroll industry has benefited enormously as a result of Norman’s input, experience and influence over the years. The profession would not be what it is today had he not been part of it. Rest in peace, Norman.
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | July/August 2020 | Issue 62 26
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