'Much-loved' Toucan Travel boss Terry Thornhill passes away aged 83
Harry KembleTerry Thornhill, who founded the Toucan Travel agency and was a founding member of the Advantage Travel Partnership, has passed away, aged 83.
Thornhill entered the travel industry when he opened Toucan’s first branch in Tadley, Hampshire, in 1982, and went on to grow the agency to seven branches across Hampshire and Berkshire.
He closed Toucan in 2020 owing to the effects of the Covid pandemic, a decision he described at the time as the "toughest" of his life.
Earlier in his career, Thornhill was a founding member of Advantage Travel Partnership and was also involved in organising holidays for disabled people, which he also led as a tour leader with a local charity.
He received a British Empire Medal in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to the disability community and other charity work.
Advantage chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said said: “We will remember Terry as a much-loved character in the industry with a huge passion for travel.
“He was a founding member of Advantage and without him we would not be where we are today. We will miss Terry and our thoughts and prayers go to his wife Barbara and his family.”
He leaves his Barbara, his wife of 61 years, three daughters, five grandchildren and one great granddaughter.
The Thornhill family invites people to honour Terry’s memory at 12.30pm on 30 July at Basingstoke Crematorium. Anyone wishing to pay their respects should email becky.black@advantagetravelpartnership.com.
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Place of registration: England and Wales.
Company number 08723341.
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