Researching Norman Williams

He was educated at Roundhay School, Leeds and The London Hospital Medical College University of London. His surgical training was in London,Bristol,Leeds and UCLA, Los Angeles, USA where he went as a Fulbright scholar in 1980.In 1982 he was appointed Senior Lecturer/Honorary Consultant Surgeon at the University of Leeds and the Leeds General Infirmary. He subsequently was appointed to the Chair of Surgery at his alma mater in 1986 and in 1995 became the Head of the merged Academic Department of Surgery of Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London and Honorary Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at The Royal London Hospital. His main clinical interests have revolved around sphincter saving procedures and his scientific endeavours have concentrated on gastrointestinal pathophysiology.

He is senior editor of the 27th Edition of Bailey and Love’s Short Practice of Surgery (having co-edited 5 previous editions), co-author of Surgery of the Anus, Rectum and Colon now in its 4th Edition and is a founding trustee, Chairman and now President of Bowel & Cancer Research. He was awarded the Patey Prize of the Surgical Research Society (1978), the Moynihan Travelling Fellowship (1985), the Society of Authors’ Prize (Jointly 1995) the Nessim Habif Prize, University of Geneva (1995), the Galen Medal of the Worshipful Company of Apothecaries (2003) and the Cutler’s Surgical Prize (jointly in 2011).

He has been President of the Society of Academic & Research Surgery, President of The Ileostomy & Internal Pouch Support Group, Chair of the UKCCCR committee on Colorectal Cancer, President of European Digestive Surgery, President of The International Surgical Group and Vice Chair of The British Journal of Surgery.

He was a member of the Secretary of State for Health’s Transparency Group (2014–15), chaired the European Working Time Regulations Taskforce (2013–14), co-chaired the Duty of Candour Review (2014) and was the Medical Advisor to Sir Robert Francis’ Freedom to Speak Up Review (2014–15). He was Chair of Health Education England’s Commission on Training for Patient Safety (2015–16) and Chair of NHS England’s National Patient Safety Collaborative (2014–16).

In October 2015 he was appointed senior clinical adviser to the then Secretary of StateJeremy Hunt. During this period he chaired a Rapid Review of Gross Negligence Manslaughter in Healthcare commissioned by Her Majesty’s Government which reported in June 2018

Between 2016-19 he was a Non Executive Director at St George's NHS Foundation Trust and is at present Chair of the National Clinical Improvement Programme (NCIP) which is an integral part of the Getting Right First Time (GIRFT) initiative, Chair of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) and a board member of the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN)

Born in Semaphore, South Australia to Captain Thomas and E.J. Williams, Williams was the brother of Lou, Ethel, Fred, Tom and Jack.

Playing for Port Adelaide Cricket Club, Williams developed into a leading leg spin bowler in Adelaide district cricket while still a teenager. There was a public call for Williams to be picked for South Australia, with one supporter stating Williams "is young and full of energy, a brilliant field, and a fair bat if needed, he can bowl all day ... (he) is not tempted to toss them up at all times; and, if he strikes a length, is the type of bowler able to run through any side."

Williams made his first-class debut for South Australia aged twenty against New South Wales at the Adelaide Oval on 19 December 1919, scoring 50 and zero and taking 3/138 as South Australia lost by and innings and 330 runs.

Described as a "stocky right-arm leg-spinner who gave the ball plenty of air, and who relied on flight and sharp spin in the manner of Arthur Mailey to trap his victims", Williams's best performance with the ball was against Queensland at the Adelaide Oval in December 1923, where he took 6/40 with match figures of 12/195. However, the arrival of Clarrie Grimmett for the 1923/24 season relegated Williams to South Australia's second choice spin bowler and was selected only once in 1924/25 and not at all during the 1925/26 season.

In 1926/27, however, Williams had an excellent season for Port Adelaide, ultimately taking 80 wickets at 14.83 for the season, and was recalled to the South Australian side. In his first match back for South Australia, against Victoria at the Adelaide Oval, Williams took match figures of 12/234, compared with Grimmett's 3/227 and Victorian spinner Don Blackie's 10/245.

During the season, Williams was called "probably the most improved bowler in Australia, ... his length is now fairly accurate. and he can turn the ball both ways. His "bosey" ball is cunningly concealed, and has proved most troublesome. Williams is one of the most popular players in South Australian cricket and has an ideal temperament for the game. Williams was the biggest wicket taker in first-class cricket in 1926/27, taking 35 wickets at 32, compared to Blackie with 33 at 24.6, Grimmett 30 at 34.3 and Mailey 20 wickets at 42.

Williams's improved form saw him selected for "The Rest" against an Australian XI, played at the Sydney Cricket Ground starting on 18 February 1927, where he took 6/174.

In October 1927 Williams became captain of Port Adelaide succeeding Dave Pritchard. He had a poor season in 1927/28, taking only five wickets at 73.00 and while he took 24 wickets at 34.9 in 1928/29, Williams retired from first-class cricket with his final appearance in January 1929, for South Australia against New South Wales, taking 2/95. He continued in district cricket until 1943, taking 894 wickets for Port Adelaide at 18.85. This remains the record number of wickets taken in the Adelaide district competition. Eleven times, and nine in succession, Williams was the leading wicket taker in a district cricket season.

Outside of cricket Williams was a dentist and became involved in horse racing as an owner. He owned leading racehorse Ramssare as part of a syndicate and later became the sole owner of Jack Parr, who won an ARC grand national steeple-chase.

Williams died suddenly on 31 May 1947, aged 47. In recognition of his district cricket accomplishments, the scoreboard at Port Adelaide's home ground Alberton Oval, was named in Williams's honour.

South Australian wicketkeeper and Port Adelaide captain Gordon Inkster paid tribute to Williams, saying that "had he applied himself more seriously he would most certainly have made one of the world's greatest bowlers of his type. On numerous occasions when he could have secured many of the closing wickets, he refrained from so doing, to enable another of the younger bowlers to procure a wicket or two, with the result that he was responsible for the developing of several young bowlers to the advantage of both club and State."