23/03/2026
It is with great sadness that I share the news that my dad, Bill Northey, passed away on 23rd March after a short battle with cancer.
Many of you knew him as the founder of Norco. To me, he was simply Dad. But those two things were never really separate.
Norco was his life’s work, and the people in it mattered deeply to him. What started as a small workshop with a few tools and a big idea became something far greater because of the standards he set and the way he treated people.
Dad believed in doing things properly. He believed in turning up, getting stuck in, and taking pride in your work. He led by example, never asking anyone to do something he would not do himself. In the early days, he did a bit of everything, and he respected everyone who did the same. That hands-on spirit became part of Norco’s DNA, and it still shows today in the quality of what we make and the way we look out for each other.
I also want to acknowledge my mum, Pauline. Norco was never just Dad’s journey. From the very beginning, Mum was there alongside him, helping get the business off the ground, supporting the early team, and carrying so much of the unseen work that makes a new company possible. Their partnership, in life and in business, is part of Norco’s foundation, and it is something our family is incredibly proud of.
On a personal level, he was quietly proud of what this business became, but even prouder of the people within it. He cared about the team, about families, and about giving people a chance to grow and build something they could be proud of. Many of the stories I have heard over the years are about small moments of kindness, encouragement, or simply him noticing when someone needed support. That meant a lot to him.
Taking on the responsibility of leading Norco after my dad has never felt like just a job to me. It is something far more personal and meaningful. It is a promise to carry forward what he started. Not just the business itself, but the values behind it. Hard work. Integrity. Looking after one another. Doing things right, even when it is difficult.
We will share details of any arrangements or ways the team can pay their respects once we are able to do so. In the meantime, please take care of one another.
Thank you for the messages, the stories, and the kindness you have shown our family. It has meant more than I can put into words.
My dad, and my mum alongside him, built Norco with their hands and their hearts. Together, we will keep building on what they began, with the same pride and care they showed from the very start.
Thank you for everything you do, and for being the community that made his life’s work so meaningful.
Mark
