After 36 years of dedicated service, Certikin’s Chairman, Patrick Thorpe, is retiring from the business. The son of a Kentish coal miner, Patrick, 64, has been a key fi gure in steering Certikin’s growth from a modest, though signifi cant, UK distributor to a major part of Fluidra, one of the world’s largest multi-national companies. Patrick joined Certikin in 1972 as Financial Controller when it was owned by Brian Stannah, of Stannah stair lift fame and Bob Kent who was Managing Director.