Er war einer der coolsten Typen in der Branche, und ich hatte das große Glück, ihn kennenlernen zu dürfen. Nun ist er tot. Das ist sowas von bitter, dass sogar mir die Worte fehlen...

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Pleasure Beach Boss Dies at Amusement Park

By Kim Pilling, PA News

The managing director of Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Geoffrey Thompson, has died suddenly after being taken ill at the world-famous amusement park.

Mr Thompson, 67, was rushed to hospital from a private family function at the park's Paradise Room.

He was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital and was pronounced dead at 8.20pm last night.

Mr Thompson OBE dedicated his life to Blackpool Pleasure Beach after he carried on the family legacy by becoming managing director of the company in 1976.

He took over the reins following the death of his father, Leonard, who had previously replaced his father-in-law and the park's founder, William George Bean.

Several family members are currently sitting on the company's board of directors.

It was under Mr Thompson's leadership that exciting new rides were added, including the spectacular 360° rollercoaster The Revolution, and the UK's only bobsleigh ride - The Avalanche.

1994 saw the biggest investment to date with the opening of the £12 million Pepsi Max Big One, the world's tallest, fastest rollercoaster.

A statement from Blackpool Pleasure Beach said the park will remain open and would "continue welcoming visitors as normal, as he would have wanted".

Quelle

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Extrem traurige Grüße,

Tim
Here comes the sun!

Letzte Bearbeitung am 13-Jun-04 um 12:02 Uhr ()
Ruhe in Frieden, Mr Showmanship.

edit:
Ich habe gerade erfahren, daß Mr Thompson während der Hochzeitsfeierlichkeiten seiner Tochter den Anfall erlitt. Das ist wirklich unglaublich traurig.

Mein Beileid für die Familie und alle Angehörigen. Jeder, der ihn kennengelernt hat, weiß das Geoffrey ein unglaublich fröhlicher Mensch war mit einer unglaublichen Ausstrahlung. Er wird eine große Lücke in der Familie und der Freizeitbranche hinterlassen...

Jetzt Coasterdynamixs vorbestellen: Coastershop

Auch mich hat diese Nachricht sehr betroffen gemacht. Mein Beileid gilt vor allem den Angehörigen.

Michael

-- I laugh in the face of danger, ... and then I hide until it goes away --

Traurig, dass eine Mutter ihren Sohn überlebt. Ruhe in Frieden, Geoffrey...

Jakob

Fun park matriarch dies after son

The eldest surviving member of Blackpool's first family of fun has died hours after her son's funeral.

Doris Thompson, 101, was too ill to attend the funeral on Wednesday of her 67-year-old son Geoffrey, the managing director of Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

A spokeswoman for the company said Mrs Thompson died peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday.

Mrs Thompson, who received an OBE in 2003, always tried out the new rides on the theme park even into her 90s.

Her son Geoffrey died on 15 June after he was taken ill at a private family function at the park's Paradise Room.

New ride

The chairman of the Pleasure Beach Company, Mrs Thompson was the daughter of Alderman William Bean, who founded the park in 1896.

Mrs Thompson, who was awarded an MBE in 1969, became the first woman to be made a freeman of Blackpool Borough when she received this honour in 2003 for services to tourism.

She went into work every day and made a point of trying every new ride at the park.

The last time she did this was in 2002 when she rode the 60mph Spin Doctor at the age of 99.

© BBC

Und jetzt sitzt mir endgültig ein Krampf in der Magengegend
Aber 101 ist schon ein wirklich schönes Alter. Ob ich mal so alt werde wage ich zu bezweifeln. Ruhe in Frieden.

Michael