On Thursday, September 7th, 2023, we bade farewell to Heather Mayfield, born Heather Norway, a remarkable and adventurous woman who passed away at the age of 91.
Born in York, England, on May 31, 1932, to Nevil Shute Norway the famed author and aircraft designer, and Francis Heaton, a naturopathic doctor. During her early years she attended boarding school, sailed on the pond and loved a string of ginger cats named "Tigger."
While she briefly explored law school, Heather attended secretary school, mastering the art of shorthand, a skill that forever puzzled her family.
In 1962, Heather married Donald Clyde Mayfield, "the love of her life" in Australia. They moved to the United States in 1963.
Heather's boundless energy and love extended to her two children, Jennifer Mayfield and Keith Mayfield who survive her. She is remembered as the neighbourhood Mother to many of her children's friends, a room Mother, school Librarian, and a multi-term president of the Parent Teacher Association.
Heather's love for life was mirrored in her active engagement with the local Methodist Church, as a leader and sister in Philanthropic Education Organization (PEO), and founding Board Member of the Nevil Shute Norway Foundation. She also enjoyed time with friends hiking, at game nights, participating in book club, and wine tasting.
She traveled the world Africa to Iceland, the Arctic Circle to the South Pole. In her 80's, she playfully embraced new experiences like ziplining, scuba diving, riding on the back of a motorcycle, and swimming with dolphins. She had a keen sense of humor and was fiercely loyal to friends and family.
Heather's legacy lives on through her children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. In her own words, she said, "I've had a great life. I wouldn't change a thing."
As we remember her adventurous spirit, that twinkle in her eye, and her love for life, may Heather rest in eternal peace, forever adventuring among the stars.
By Laura Schneider
Heather Norway Mayfield enhanced and upheld her father's legacy in part by participating in and supporting those who celebrated his books and work.
Over the years, Heather generously shared her experiences, stories and observations at several international Nevil Shute conferences, which made each extra memorable.
I met Heather at OZ2001, in Frankston, Australia. Her delight in getting reacquainted with people from her life in England and Australia made the Conference unforgettable. She and they shared stories about her Dad, their friend, neighbor, employer Nevil Shute.
A favorite memory was on an excursion in the Dandenong Ranges National Park, outside Melbourne. The crimson rosellas were tremendously attracted to Heather and perched on her arms, shoulders and blue hat. Everyone else was trying to woo the birds with treats but they went straight to Heather and stayed for several minutes. It was quite a happy sight.
Heather was kind, gentle, enthusiastic, funny and grateful for the Foundation and those who loved her Dad's books. The Foundation is indebted to Heather for all she shared and we were incredibly fortunate to know her.
By Alison Jenner
I had read about Nevil Shute's family and heard a message of welcome from his younger daughter Shirley at the Southsea conference. Later on I was able to meet and get to know his elder daughter, Heather.
I went to the conference in York in 2009, with a map of UK with a number of Shute-related locations marked with mapping pins. I got chatting to friends not seen for a while and then overheard a voice with a curious mixture of American and Australian intonations saying, "And that's where I was born!" I looked over to see an older lady and a young man; these were Heather and her son Keith. Funny and tolerant, Heather was engaged in all the activities we undertook. When we had our banquet towards the end of the week the guest speaker was Marie Stopes-Roe, the daughter of Nevil Shute's colleague on the R100, Heather seemed a bit taken aback to realise that this was someone whom she had met at a very young age and probably not since then.
Heather clearly appreciated the interest we had for her father's work, and later gave us all a little talk about her reminiscences of growing up in England and the places her travels and studies had taken her. I shared a room with her in Seattle and again in Hobart and she was very interesting to talk to. One day, before the Seattle conference properly got going, we walked down to the art gallery and we had fun each choosing the three works of art we would take home with us. On our coach trip to the various attractions, Boeing field, the bonsai nursery and the university, we swapped book recommendations with other members of our party resulting in a varied book list to take home with us. Similarly when we went to Tasmania in 2013 there were so many strange new sights to take in. A trip to a shipwright's in a woodworking workshop using native timber ware evocative of Jack Donnelly's skills and that intrigued her. I think there were three or four of us women in a "wrennery&uot; room in the Woolpack hotel, located I think in a beautifully renovated former wool warehouse.
Heather was kind, amusing and observant. She was a delight to get to know, slightly, and was a woman who made the best of whatever circumstances she found herself in.
By Nick Shapowal
I first met Heather at the Centennial gathering in Albuquerque where I heard her speak. She was one the two offspring of Nevil present. Heather gave skillfully a balanced memory of her father.
After the gathering, Jean and I shared with Heather one of the hotel minibuses to the airport and we chatted. She seemed surprised, but pleasantly so, at what had just happened - that so many had travelled so far to celebrate Shute's centennial.
I don't think we knew then that the NSN Foundation would be formed.
Joost Meulenbroek I met Heather (and her son Keith) in 2009 during the York conference.
I had been the newsletter editor for the foundation since about a year before this conference.
Heather telephoned me in my room in the hotel, and asked me if I would have a drink with her in the bar of the hotel. There she told me, that there had been a meeting of the board of the foundation, and that they had decided to ask me if I would join the board. Naturally I accepted this.
I will remember Heather as a very kind and interested person.
By Beall Fowler
Heather Norway Mayfield was a good friend to those of us who treasure the works of Nevil Shute, and a supporter of her father's legacy.
Her presence at several of the international gatherings and her contributions were greatly appreciated and added a great deal to those events.
It was my pleasure to meet her during those times and to realize what a fine person she was, friendly and soft-spoken, and appreciative of the efforts of those of us who took such great pleasure in the works of her father.