Obituary: Henry Thorne, 89, founder of Margaret Motors

Motorheads around during the 1990s may well remember visiting Henry Thorne’s automobilia shop based on Aylsham Road in Norwich. 

Margaret Motors, a name inspired by his wife Jennifer’s middle name, became a thriving automobilia business from the mid 1980s.

So much so, the husband-and-wife team opened up a shop filled with stock amassed from their personal collection, classic car shows, and private dealers.

Henry Thorne (Image: Newsquest Archive)

This included magazines, books, mascots, logbooks, postcards, badges, and endless manuals and handbooks on mechanisms and history.  

And while the shop may have closed its doors for the final time during the mid 2000s, the business continued trading up until recently. 

Henry Francis Thorne was born on May 5, 1933, in Reading to Michael and Constance Thorne. They moved a lot during his childhood, so he boarded at Felsted School, Essex.

Henry Thorne as a boy during the 1930s (Image: Supplied)

He frequently spent holidays with his aunts and uncles, one of whom had a holiday home in Sheringham. 

He later attended Kesteven Agricultural College, Lincolnshie, prior to working on a farm and his National Service, where he joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) for five years. 

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He rose to the rank of Lance Corporal Thorne and, during this time, learnt to drive several different vehicles including refuelling tankers, cranes, and buses. He also helped with the 1953 flood efforts in Norfolk. 

After the RAF, he joined Henly’s Cars and became manager of many branches in the London area.  

The photo Henry Thorne gave to Jennifer when the couple were courting (Image: Supplied)

While commuting to work, he often saw a young lady named Jennifer walking to the bus stop. On one wet and windy day, he stopped to give her a lift and she accepted.  

They married on March 25, 1961, and had celebrated 62 years of marriage the day before Mr Thorne died. 

The couple began married life together in Jennifer’s hometown of Sipson, near London, before moving to White Waltham, Berkshire. They had three children; Susan (b.1964), Wendy (b.1966), and Clive (b.1974).

Henry Thorne and his wife Jennifer leaving for their honeymoon (Image: Supplied)

Family holidays were often spent in Norfolk, and it was on a day trip nearly 50 years ago when they discovered a property for sale in Bessingham, south of Cromer. They moved there shortly after their son was born.  

Mr Thorne continued to work in London during the week and travelled home at weekends. It was during this time, he founded Margaret Motors. After leaving Henly’s, it became his full-time job. 

His life now centered around attending car shows at weekends and enjoying his garden on weekdays. Later, he would make many happy memories there playing cricket with his grandson, Peter, now aged 23.

An article about Margaret Motors that appeared in the EDP in 1994 (Image: Supplied)

An article about Margaret Motors that appeared in the EDP in 1994 (Image: Supplied)

Away from work, the couple discovered a love of cruising and went all over the globe, including a trip around the world. 

Mr Thorne never retired and continued attending car shows until the Covid-19 pandemic.

He also owned several vintage cars himself including a Damlier Light 15, four Austin Sevens, and a Bentley Mark 6.

Son, Clive, said: “[He was] my role model and I'll never forget his laughter at old classic comedy films and his love of classic cars.” 

Henry Thorne and wife Jennifer on a cruise (Image: Supplied)

Henry Thorne is described as having a twinkle in his eye and a cheeky grin on his face (Image: Supplied)

While daughter, Susan, added: “All of the people involved in his life have told us how kind, generous, fair, and fun he was. 

“He always had a twinkle in his eye and a cheeky grin on his face.” 

Mr Thorne was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease around five years ago and he died on Sunday, March 26.  

His funeral service will be held at Cromer Crematorium at noon on Wednesday, April 19. Donations in his memory can be sent to the East Anglian Air Ambulance and the RNLI. 

(Left to right) Henry Thorne with his son, Colin, and grandson, Peter, all working in the woods at the end of his garden (Image: Supplied)

Henry Thorne on his 88th birthday (Image: Supplied)

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