A THIRD generation family firm of civil engineers founded by bothers during the Second World War has been shortlisted for the Sussex Super Growth awards 2016.

Charles James Thorne started C J Thorne & Co as a two-lorry haulage business in the village of Fairwarp, near Uckfield in 1939.

After his engineer brothers Frank and Leslie left the Army in 1941 they joined the fledgling company and began buying up ex-war department equipment including bulldozers and began building school playing fields.

To this day the business remains a family affair with Charles’ son Richard currently chairman and grandson Chris managing director.

During an eventful history, the firm built Uckfield sewage works, featured in classic films such as Ice Cold in Alex, and restored the water cascade at Sheffield Park Gardens.

Most recently it was awarded for its work restoring Kings Road Arches in Hove.

Projects in water treatment, reservoirs, coastal and river work, earthworks and landscaping, environmental protection and infrastructure give the company a turnover of about £15 million a year.

The early years of the business focussed on post-war civil engineering for the public water industry.

As water utility companies became privatised, C J Thorne diversified into rail, environmental and landscaping.

It employs 75 staff in Uckfield and 45 in Crawley, with many putting in more than 20 years of service.

In 2015 it won the Lewes & Wealden Business of the Year Award as well as the Sussex Heritage Trust’s Commercial Award for the restoration of the Kings Road Arches in Hove.

Managing Director Chris Thorne is also director of Uckfield Rugby Club and the company sponsors the club too.

He said: “As a private family-owned business with strong links into the local community, we are absolutely delighted to be short-listed in the Sussex Super Growth Awards. Our business is all about the strong teamwork of our loyal staff and their commitment and expertise in delivering successful projects to our clients. I thank them for their valued contribution to our growth and look forward to seeing the Sussex Super Growth finalist positions announced in March 2016.”

*The Sussex Super Growth awards 2016 is a project to celebrate the highest growth companies in the region.

Using rigorous company data, an index of 60 high growth companies has been collated.

Each week in Argus Business a different business sill be profiled from the 60-strong shortlist as part of the scheme, which is a partnership between asb law, Kreston Reeves, Lloyd Bank and The Argus.

The full list and ranking of business will revealed at a special event at The Amex stadium on March 8.