Norman Edwards was born on 6 October 1899 in Manchester, the son of Robert Griffith Edwards, a pharmacist, and Mary, née Roberts. He was educated at Manchester Grammar School and Manchester University Medical School. He became consultant gynaecologist to the Derby Women's Hospital, Derby City Hospital and the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary. His wife Margaret, née Simcock, was a medical practitioner and they had three children: Nigel, a consultant ENT surgeon in Bristol; Jean, a social scientist; and Margaret, a physiotherapist. In his spare time, Norman Edwards was a keen golfer, with a handicap of six. He also enjoyed skiing and mountain walking, painting in pastels and salmon fishing. He died on 8 December 1992, aged 93.