City council 'father'

January 6, 2005

GAMBLING CLOSE (near Norwich Airport)
EDWARD GAMBLING COURT (off Nelson Street)

To have one road named in your honour is a tribute . . . but to have two! Now that is a rare achievement.

The late Ted Gambling – man of the people – who has two roads named after him.

And they remember a man who devoted most of his life to helping the people of Norwich.

His name was Ted Gambling and when he died almost 11 years ago he was described as the “backbone” and the “father” of Norwich City Council.

A lifelong member of the Labour Party and a committed trade unionist he lived and breathed local government.

People with problems, big and small, all went to Ted for help…and were never turned away.

Edward Gambling was born in humble surroundings in Norwich in 1905. He went to work in the City Engineer’s office at the age of 15 and then moved into the health department in 1923.

From the end of the war until 1970 he was a full-time officer with the National Union of Public Employees.

His political career took off in 1946 when, as Labour candidate, he was elected to represent the people of the Heigham ward. He served them for 40 years.

Ted was Sheriff of Norwich in 1967/8 and was then elected Lord Mayor in 1968/9.

When elected he made a controversial call for the Fine City signs in Norwich to be scrapped and replaced with something more appropriate. Perhaps a coat of arms and the word Norwich.

“You can have something more arrogant if you like, but you don’t need to say a fine city – it’s very obvious,” said Ted.

He also called for property owners in Norwich to take pride in their premises. “If we can encourage everybody to do this, then we can really get Norwich going.”

Some things never change.

Back in 1968 he was calling for Magdalen Street to be improved and for more pedestrianisation: “Traffic could destroy our city if we do not press on with the provision of foot streets.”

Think of a committee and the chances are that Ted served on it, but he was especially passionate about the development of Norwich airport.

He had been a member of the first airfield committee since 1967 and served on various bodies linked to the airport for almost 20 years and had been chairman.

When he stepped down in 1986 Airport manager Steve Parsons thanked him for his guidance and help – Ted said he would watch the expansion with great interest.

He had been married to Marjorie. They lived in Victoria Street and had three daughters.

Ted died in March 1994.

Edward Gambling Court, off Nelson Street, where he served as a councillor is named after him, along with Gambling Close near Norwich Airport.

His memory lives on…

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