Create folders under the Thunderbird Local Folders account and move your messages there. If you are using IMAP email then the messages are on the providers server and will be gone when you discontinue service with them.

I have folders in the local section of Thunderbird so it would seem from your reply that they will still be available to me/ How do I find out if I am using IMAP? How when Orange finishes do I delete that E-mail from Thunderbird and how do I set up another E-mail to replace it.

Items in Thunderbirds Local Folders account are just that, folders on your computer hard drive. Your provider has no access or control over them.

Make sure you understand I am talking about folders in the special account of Thunderbird named Local Folders.

You look in account settings for that account and see if it says IMAP or pop.

You will have to get a new email account from an email provider before you can add it to Thunderbird. When you get a new email address you just go to File-New-Existing Mail account and add it to Thunderbird.

Thank you very much.