Joan Thornycroft honoured with MBE

12 April 2013 – Section: News ,

Joan Thornycroft of Great Britain has been awarded the MBE by Queen Elizabeth II in her New Year’s Honours List for services to the international professional beauty therapy industry. Joan`s dedication over almost 70 years, from training with Helena Rubinstein’s London beauty salon to establishing a UK-based professional beauty equipment supply company and opening the Bretlands Beauty Centre, have made her an important influence both in the UK and overseas.

Her 8 years with CIDESCO – the Comite International d’Esthetiques et de Cosmetologie – where as Board Member for Education she was responsible for setting and overseeing training standards, has taken her to all corners of the world examining students and lecturing to beauty therapists and salon owners. She had served a 3 year term as Public Relations Board Member previously. Joan was a founder member of BABTAC and was subsequently Chairman having first been chair of the CIBTAC Education Committee. In fact she was a true pioneer having introduced many far away countries including New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the orient to both CIDESCO and CIBTAC. Many were guided by her into establishing their own national associations.

Joan has also been much in demand as a consultant advising and helping to set up beauty salons and spas in many countries, which led to the establishment of BISA – the British International Spa Association – again setting standards in this fast-growing wellness industry.