22 March 2023

Obituary Richard Thorpe

FODO has learnt with sadness of the passing of Richard Thorpe. Richard died peacefully at home on 1 March following a short illness, three months short of his 100th birthday.

Richard was formerly secretary and chairman of the Society of Opticians, one of the founder organisations of FODO, a past Master of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers, and actively involved in the detailed discussions and negotiations that led to the formation of the College of Optometrists.

We mourn the passing of one of eye care's 'greats', and our deepest sympathy goes to his family and friends at this sad time.  

Donations in Richard's memory can be left to Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre and Sight Support Derby by following this link.

Please see below for the obituary of the late Richard Thorpe 1 June 1923 - 1 March 2023, that has been prepared by his immediate family.

Richard was born in Littleover, Derby on June 1st 1923.

His parents were Bertram Samuel Thorpe (founder member of Lancaster & Thorpe Opticians) and Sarah Louisa Thorpe. He had two brothers, Harold and Norman, who were also part of the family business and a sister Elsie.

Richard was educated at Ashe Hall School, Etwall, Derbyshire in his early years before attending Bromsgrove School as a boarder. He left Bromsgrove at the end of 1939, soon after the Second World War started, and was put to work at the Derby Optical Company grinding lenses by hand, which was the cause of many sore fingers.

He soon moved to London for a period with Ross & Co in Clapham, working on the manufacture of binoculars for the army, and studying Ophthalmic Optics in the evenings, before returning to the Derby Optical Co, combining this with continued optical studies, and other duties under the auspices of the Home Guard Anti aircraft unit at Kingsway in Derby.

In 1942 he took the Worshipful Company Part 1 exams at the London Refraction Hospital and then walked into the Army Recruiting Office on his way home from Derby Station and signed up, a decision that did not go down well with his father! He served with R.E.M.E. as an instrument mechanic from 1942-1947, rising to the rank of Sergeant, including three and a half years abroad.

Richard had become fascinated with conjuring as a boy and spent many hours practicing sleight of hand. His first shows were at family parties and later he used these talents in his spare time to entertain fellow soldiers whenever the opportunity arose.

After returning from the war in 1947, and after carrying his text books in his kit bag for five years, Richard completed his final exams as an Ophthalmic Optician and joined the family firm of opticians, Lancaster and Thorpe.

He then rejoined the Derwent Rowing Club and met Daphne Hawkins at a regatta dance, and they married in 1948. As well as rowing, dinghy sailing at Trent Lock and Ogston Reservoir in Derbyshire, was another hobby enjoyed by all the family.

During this time Richard became a member of the Magic Circle in London when his business took him that way. He was a past president of Nottingham Magic Circle. He joined the International Brotherhood of Magicians in 1948 and remained a member until his death, although his hearing problems brought his performing to an end many years earlier. Daphne was also involved as his glamorous assistant.

He served as Honorary secretary of the Society of Opticians, one of the founder organisations of the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians, for over a decade and then as Chairman, before becoming a Liveryman and Member of the Court of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers, where he became actively involved in the establishment of training and Examination facilities for technicians involved in making spectacles

In 1980, as Upper Warden of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers, Richard took an active role in the formation of the new British College of Ophthalmic Opticians, which united the then three examining bodies - the British Optical Association, the Worshipful Company and the Scottish Association - serving as the new organisations first Treasurer. In 1981 Richard became The Master of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers for two years.

Richard's working life was dedicated to the British optical profession, supported by Daphne, his wife of almost 70 years, until her death in July 2018 and he particularly appreciated the way in which Daphne acted as the lynch pin around whom the family revolved.

Richard was Chairman of Derby Round Table and a Member of Derby Rotary Club and, at the age of 82, was surprised to be elected as Chairman of Chevin Probus Club.

He became a member of Chevin Golf Club in 1979 and, when golf became too strenuous, he and Daphne joined Hazelwood Bowls Club.

After retirement Richard took up writing with over 150 articles published. He had inherited from his father a love of Charles Dickens, his wonderful characters and his wry sense of humour, and for similar reasons learned a number of Rudyard Kipling's poems to keep his brain active as the years rolled on. After Daphne's death in 2018 he decided he had a lot of time on his hands and set about teaching himself to draw. His thirst for learning never left him. He was actively drawing and creating his own invitation for his upcoming 100th party in June just before he fractured his arm at the end of January this year.

Finally, Richard and Daphne shared a love of travel and had many adventurous holidays all over the world. Richard wished he could do away with the hassle of travelling. He always said travel would be much more fun if you didn't need to travel to do it.

We don't know if he is travelling free on his last journey but we hope so!

Richard leaves a son and daughter, Roderick and Linda, two grandchildren, Henry and Isabel, and two great granddaughters, Beatrice and Dorothy.