Interim Results - 6 Months to 31 December 1999

Thorpe(F.W.) PLC
5 April 2000


At a board meeting held today, the Directors approved the following
announcement:

INTERIM CONSOLIDATED RESULTS 2000
                                     Half year       Half year       Full year
                                         ended           ended           ended
                                      31.12.99        31.12.98         30.6.99
                                   (unaudited)     (unaudited)       (audited)
                                          £000            £000            £000

Turnover - continuing operations        13,497          13,412          25,410
                                        ______          ______          ______

Operating Profit-continuing operations     661           1,084           2,510

Interest receivable                        182             278             878
                                        ______          ______          ______
Profit on ordinary
activities before taxation                 843           1,362           3,388

Taxation on profit 
on ordinary activities                     252             419           1,036
                                        ______          ______          ______
Profit on ordinary 
activities after taxation                  591             943           2,352
                                        ______          ______          ______

Dividends                                  180           1,497           1,988
                                        ______          ______          ______

Retained profit for the period             411           (554)             364
                                        ______          ______          ______
Dividend rate per share:      
       Interim                           1.50p           1.50p           1.50p
       Special                                          10.00p          10.00p
       Final                                                             3.75p
Earnings per share                       4.50p           7.27p          18.10p


CHAIRMAN'S INTERIM STATEMENT

The results for the first half of the current financial year have fallen below
our expectations.

The group turnover was £13,497K as compared to £13,411K last year and the
operating profit before tax was £661K as compared to £1,084K in the previous
year.  With investment income of £182K (previous year £278K) profit before tax
was £843K (previous year £1,362K).  The interim dividend will be 1.5p per
share, which is the same as last year and will be paid on 16th May 2000.

Despite a confident start during July and August, orders suffered a downturn
from which we are only now just beginning to recover.  For many months the
price competition in the industrial and commercial lighting market in which we
operate has been intense and we have suffered from squeezed margins and
selling prices that in many cases are below those of the previous year.

We are taking the necessary steps to improve the situation, by introducing new
products with innovative and cost effective designs, by improving our
manufacturing methods and by reducing our overhead costs wherever possible. 
All of these actions will improve business performance over future months.

The export market remains difficult due to the continuing high value of the
pound but nevertheless, we are maintaining a reasonable order input.

The UK lighting market has been more buoyant since January, and despite
continuing price pressures, we anticipate month on month improvements in our
trading performance for the remainder of the financial year.

On 2nd February 2000, the company purchased 1,040,500 of its own shares at a
price of 115 pence per share in order to enhance the earnings per share for
the benefit of the shareholders generally.

Colin Brangwin
Chairman
05 April 2000

Notes:
1.The interim results to 31 December 1999 have been prepared on an historical
cost basis consistent with the accounting policies adopted in the Group
statutory accounts for the year ended 30 June 1999.  They are neither audited
nor reviewed.

2.The Company has no recognised gains and losses other than those included in
the profit above and therefore no separate statement of recognised gains and
losses has been presented.

3.The comparative profit and loss account for the year to 30 June 1999 is an
extract from the Group statutory accounts.  These accounts have been filed
with the Registrar of Companies and included an unqualified audit report.

4.The interim taxation change is based on the anticipated rate for the
financial year.

5.The interim dividend is at the rate of 1.50p per share (1998: 1.50p) and
based on 11,975,313 shares in issue at the announcement date. 
The interim dividend will be paid on Tuesday 16 May 2000 to shareholders on
the register at the close of business on Tuesday 25 April 2000.  The shares
become ex-dividend on Monday 17 April 2000.

6. The earnings per share is calculated on profit on ordinary activities after
taxation and the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue of
13,015,813 during the period.

6. Copies of this report will be sent to shareholders on 10 April 2000.
Further copies may be obtained from the Company's registered office from this
date.


F W Thorpe PLC
Merse Road
North Moons Moat
Redditch
Worcs
B98 9HH