Family-run dealer group Thurlow Nunn mourns death of former chairman

Staff and the leadership team at Thurlow Nunn are mourning the death of its former chairman, John Thurlow, at the weekend.

Supported by his wife Peggy who sadly also died recently, he had headed the Cambridgeshire-based business, founded by his great grandfather in the 1800s, from 1968 until 2021 when he handed over the chairman’s seat to his son James.

During his leadership John Thurlow expanded the business from an agricultural machinery business into a car retailer, acquiring its first stake in a Vauxhall dealership in Stowmarket in 1982 and then steadily expanding by acquiring or opening more Vauxhall dealerships across Norfolk and into Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. 

In 2019 Thurlow Nunn also began to partner other franchises, including Peugeot and MG.

Its agricultural machinery division, which is branded Thurlow Nunn Standen following a merger with FJ Nunn in the 1970s and acquisition of FA Standen in the 1980s, also expanded and now also has branches in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

In a statement, James Thurlow and his sisters Nic and Sally said: “It is with overwhelming sadness that we announce the death of our father, John Thurlow, on 8 June, only 12 days after our mother Peggy passed away. Whilst this is probably the most difficult challeng we have faced in our lives, we have so much to be thankful for.”

Sadly John Thurlow had been diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2018, and next year, when the Thurlow Nunn Group of Companies will mark its 150th anniversary, the business will take the opportunity to raise funds to support Dementia UK and the motor industry charity Ben.

The statement added: “We hope you will all join us in celebrating this incredible milestone but, above all, celebrate being a family. We strive to retain the family feel at the TN Group. We’ve learnt over the years that what defines family is not solely blood relations but it is also the people who share your family values, who support you; the people you can rely on and trust. We have so much to be grateful for.”