'There's a memory like that attached to every track – it's what records do, it's like the key to the memory, it just unlocks them.'

Over 20 years that's a lot of memories, and Norman says carnival's changed for the better since the early days, which were overshadowed by riots and the 'media's attention to the negative'. 'Before it was too much testosterone, not enough girls and threatening music,' he says.

'Now it's a fully-fledged festival: creative and artistic people having Good Times is the essence of Carnival. The partying, the festival: it's all a celebration of multi-cultural London, multi-cultural Britain.'

So the original cat in the hat – along with Chopper bikes they're Norman's trademark, and today he's wearing a fetching pith helmet – has 'kept people dancing' for 20 years. And even if the rain comes pouring down, Carnival 2K will be no different from the rest: 'I'm in denial about the weather – I don't want to know,' he says, smiling a mile wide smile.

'Good Times is the DNA of Carnival. And come rain or shine nothing's going to stop me next week.'

— Tom Morgan 25.08.00

Click here to listen to Norman's damn fine work.
Click here for the official Notting Hill Carnival website.
Click here for the Nuphonic website.