Creator of the Big Yellow Teapot and founder of Bluebird Toys joins September's event.
Sir Torquil Norman, the inventor of the Big Yellow Teapot and founder of Bluebird Toys, has been confirmed as a speaker at the Toy & Game Inventors Workshop event in September.
Sir Norman will be one of the inventors on the 'How we made it' panel session, where several creators of iconic toys will be discussing their own journeys as toy inventors and answering questions from the audience.
He invented the Big Yellow Teapot, which went on to became one of Britain’s most popular toys.
Sir Norman, a former chairman and president of the British Toy and Hobby Manufacturer’s Association, founded Bluebird Toys in 1980 and the company was responsible for products including the plastic lunchbox, Manta Force, the A La Carte Kitchen and Polly Pocket.
He retired from the toy business in 1996 and bought the Roundhouse in Camden in the same year, spending ten years rebuilding it before opening it again in 2006.
In 1996, he also founded the Norman Trust, a charity for children and young people.
Sir Norman was awarded the CBE in 2002 and was knighted in 2007 for services to the arts and to disadvantaged young people.
"It’s about 20 years since I was actively involved in the toy industry and the toys have certainly changed in that time, but children seem to respond to the same kinds of ideas," Sir Norman told ToyNews.
"I hope a voice from the past won't sound too out of place.”
Event sponsors currently include Hasbro, Cartamundi, Hasbro, Flair, John Adam, Sambro and Fundamentally Children.
All of the companies will be inviting delegates to pitch their invention ideas to them, as well as being on hand to offer advice and guidance.
The Toy & Game Inventors Workshop takes place on Monday, September 22nd at Rich Mix, Bethnal Green Road, London. Delegate tickets are priced at just £99 and they can be directly booked by clicking here.
