Aberdour: Tributes to hotel owner Pauleen Norman MBE

Pauleen Norman, who was awarded an MBE for her work in the community in 2011, passed away on August 17 in Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.

A much-loved local figure, she ran the Forth View Hotel for nearly 50 years and was instrumental in establishing many events in the village including the Aberdour Festival and Aberdour in Bloom.

Daughter Lisa, on behalf of the family, said their mum saw being part of a community as "hugely important" and gave selflessly to Aberdour, the local school and many other organisations.

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"She and others were instrumental in the starting of the Aberdour Festival of which she remained active for several decades," she explained. "Her enthusiasm and drive knew no bounds.

Pauleen Norman with her three children when she picked up her MBE. (Image: Contributed)

"Her family friends and even nephew came up each year to help out during that extra busy time. To say it was hectic is an understatement and Pauleen seemed to carry the list of chores and timings in her head and was always rushing in and out.

"In the early days much of the catering was prepared at the hotel, and it was all hands to help.

"As well as the festival Pauleen was, with Joan Dryburgh, involved in starting Aberdour village in bloom and under the pair's guidance, the village achieved several top awards.

"She also was very actively involved in the community council for many years. She was passionate about trying to make a difference and in promoting and improving the village she lived in."

Born in Wembley in 1945, Pauleen lived in England for the first part of her life and, while attending Northern Polytechnic where she trained as a cookery demonstrator, she met husband Eddie and the couple married when she was 21.

They had their first child, William, when they were living just outside Liverpool and moved to Scotland, firstly to Dalgety Bay, in 1973.

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After seeing Forth View while out walking, they bought it to run as an hotel and moved in 1977, with Eddie carrying out much of the work to get it fit for use. 

The couple went onto have two daughters, Lisa and Hannah, as well as five grandchildren.

Eddie sadly died in 2002 in a tragic car accident and four years later, daughter Hannah opened the Room with a View restaurant within the hotel, while Pauleen continued with the B&B side of the business.

Many will fondly remember her also as the dedicated driver at Room with a View, ensuring customers were transported to and from the restaurant, or anywhere in the village.

A funeral service for Pauleen will take place in Aberdour on September 14.