In 1880, at the age of 25, he left England and travelled to Ceylon, where he settled near Dickoya and managed the Abbotsleigh Estate, which was owned by C. J. Braine, until 1904.
Norman was the first to manage the office,[3] the objective of which was to assist the immigration of Tamil labourers for the Ceylon tea plantations.
[4] When the Commission was started, it was funded in part by the Government of Ceylon, as well as by planters, but later the plantation owners took over all costs.
[5] Norman was assisted by a number of Indian and European aides in his duties, one of whom, appointed in 1911, was John Still, the author of Jungle Tide.
He had been visiting his daughter, Esme, and son in law at their home, Blair Atholl, which is now a hotel, Wallwood garden.