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Stanley Thornton was born on 5 September, 1903, in Sheffield. He was the son of confectionery salesman Joseph Thornton who had bought a Sheffield sweetshop for his older son Norman and set him up in business.

Stanley joined his older brother in the family business in 1921 after the death of their father. Together they formed a private limited company, J. W. Thornton Ltd, with Norman as Chairman.

While Norman Thornton ran the Thorntons shops, Stanley concentrated on the production side of the business. In 1925, after a year of experimenting on his kitchen stove with different combinations of butter, milk, and sugar, he created the recipe for Thorntons' Special Toffee - still one of the company's most famous and successful products.

Norman Thornton retired in 1971 and Stanley became chairman. In 1982 he became Company President. In 1988 the company was floated on the stock exchange and Stanley Thornton became life president of the new company, Thorntons plc.

By the time of Stanley Thornton's death, on 27 February 1992, at the DRI, the company was embarking on a new expansion drive.

Stanley Thornton's ashes were interred at Winster church, Derbyshire, on 5 March, after a funeral in Derby Cathedral.

• Stanley Thornton

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County:  Derbyshire