Norine Hurt Departed This Life

This newspaper has learned that Norine Lucy Hurt, 96, has died. She came to Tortola in 1959 as wife of Arthur Hurt, government dentist, and was (still is) well known in the community. Norine had a fantastic and varied life, from her early days in India where she viewed the Himalayan Mountains from her school windows to the garden parties and all the golden glamour days of the Raj. Then to England with her two children, arriving at the start of World War Two. She was in London during the Blitz, the street they lived on was hit and all the houses on one side were destroyed, but miraculously their side did not lose a pane of glass. When her daughter and family emigrated to Canada she joined them until on a trip to Darjeeling to visit her ailing mother she met Arthur Hurt, an American dentist. It must have been love at first sight because he followed her to Canada, proposed, and shortly after they were married. After a round-the-world honeymoon she had the choice of living in Chicago or going to little-known Tortola. Mr. Hurt was the first resident dentist on Tortola, his main task being to care for the school children on all the islands, which they travelled to by boat one or two days a week taking their equipment with them, including a foot-operated drill of Arthur’s design. Norine, who was known to faint at the sight of a dentist chair now became dental assistant, helping to calm the little ones, holding their hands and repeating the age-old phrase “This really won’t hurt a bit”. She also learned to make dentures. For his efforts Dr. Hurt was awarded the MBE by Queen Elizabeth, and as he said - it was for Norine as well. If Norine had one failing it was not always knowing her right hand from her left, and in giving directions would wave frantically in one direction when she meant the opposite. As Commissioner of the Girl Guides of Tortola she was to lead the march-past in St. Thomas. Day after day she practiced; marching - being coached by the Superintendent of PWD, and time after time would stride forward with her right foot when given the order left, right, left, right! However, all went well on the day, and the BVI flag flew proudly. Ms Hurt loved flowers and gardening was her passion, and up to early this year she was helping tend the pot plants where she lived. She loved entertaining and her Sunday curry lunches and evening get-togethers were legendary. She made life-long friends wherever she went. Norine Hurt was a truly great lady: she will always be in our hearts.