Sadness in Knighton at death of Emmerdale actor Richard Thorp
To millions he was Alan Turner, drinking his tot of whisky in the Woolpack, but to the people of the Shropshire/Powys border town of Knighton he was Richard Thorp, who preferred a brandy and a Sunday lunch and loved vintage cars and Harley-Davison motorbikes.
Mr Thorp, who died yesterday, had lived in his mansion on the outskirts of the town for 15 years, commuting the 300 miles to film the soap in Yorkshire. He joined the cast in 1982 and was its longest serving member.
In the 1950s he was the suave heart throb of one of television's first soaps, Emergency Ward 10, and also starred in the film, The Dambusters.
The mayor of Knighton, Councillor Roger Bright, had been speaking to Mr Thorp just last week and the 81-year old actor had been looking forward to going to the mayoral civic service.
The actor bought his home in Knighton in 1997.
"Richard told me that he went along with the estate agent and his own agent to look at the property. When he saw the views from the house he told them he was buying it – before he even looked inside. He said he knew that when he saw the views of the town and the Teme Valley, this was where he wanted to live."
A private man, Mr Thorp enjoyed his life in the peace of the Powys countryside.
But he was happy to lend his fame to help local charities with fundraising or events.
Councillor Bright said: "He used to put his vintage car into the local show, judged the carnival queen competition and took part in the Knighton Carnival on the RAF Association float.
"When I was mayor in 2009 he agreed to come along to the start of a senior citizens event to draw the raffle. John Challis – Boycie – was there as well and the two of them stayed all afternoon, chatting to each other and to the senior citizens.
"He was very down to earth – he was just one of us. He used to go into the local pub and could often be found on a Sunday having lunch at the Milebrook Hotel."
