Thorntons, the confectionery company once based in the town of Belper became major sponsors.
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Support from Thorntons and other local firms has helped the school remodel most of its accommodation to suit an 11-18 school population.
The music world came calling after Robbie Williams requested his help for "Rock DJ", while Grace Jones asked for her head to be cast in chocolate, courtesy of Thornton’s chocolate factory, for her tenth studio album, Hurricane.
James Worth Thornton (1906–1983), businessman and scion of the Thorntons of Indiana