Naval career Thorold joined the
Royal Navy in 1917. He was promoted to
lieutenant on 30 May 1926. He qualified as a
navigating officer in 1928. He attended and passed the staff course at the
Royal Naval College, Greenwich, in 1935. From 1941 to 1943, he was
Staff Officer Operations to the
Flag Officer Commanding Force H (
James Somerville then
Henry Harwood). Thorold was promoted to
captain on 31 December 1946. From January 1949 to 1950, he was senior officer of the
Fishery Protection Squadron, and commanding officer of . From December 1950 to January 1953, he was captain of , a
stone frigate that was home to the Royal Navy's Navigation and Direction School. Thorold retired from the Royal Navy on 7 January 1956. Due to his high rank, he was allowed to continue to be addressed as captain.
Public service On 2 June 1959, Thorold was commissioned as a
Deputy Lieutenant (DL) to the
Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire. In 1961, he was appointed a
Justice of the Peace (JP) for
Kesteven. Thorold also held a number of voluntary chairmanships:
Grantham Hospital Management Committee (1963 to 1974),
Lincoln Diocesan Trust and Board of Finance (1966 to 1971), and Community Council of Lincolnshire (1974 to 1981).
Political career From 1958 to 1974, Thorold was a
county councillor for
Kesteven. From 1973 to 1981, he was
Leader of
Lincolnshire County Council. ==Personal life==