Geoffrey Thompson

William Geoffrey Thompson OBE (16 November 1936 – 12 June 2004) was a British businessman who was the owner and managing director of Pleasure Beach Resort (better known as Blackpool Pleasure Beach), Adventure Coast Southport, and Frontierland Western Theme Park. He rose to his position in 1976 after the death of his father, Leonard Thompson.

Career

Geoffrey Thompson was appointed managing director of Pleasure Beach Resort in 1976, following the death of his father. During his tenure, he bought two separate amusement parks, Adventure Coast Southport and Frontierland Western Theme Park, the latter of which he closed in 2000. He invested heavily into Pleasure Beach Resort throughout his years of ownership, overseeing the installations of Steeplechase, Avalanche, Revolution, The Big One, Launch Pad, and Valhalla.

He was on a number of trade agencies, such as the English Tourist Board, the British Association of Leisure Parks, and Piers and Attractions, and was appointed an OBE for this work. In 1986, Pleasure Beach Resort became one of the first companies in the United Kingdom to register with the Government Profit Related Pay Unit. Under this scheme, the company agreed that, where profits exceeded £1 million, 10% would be distributed among the permanent staff according to their length of service.

Thompson attended Arnold School and Rossall School,