Amanda Thompson OBE speaks to Park World editor, Becci Knowles about life at the helm of Blackpool Pleasure Beach
The fourth generation of her family to run Blackpool Pleasure Beach – her great-grandfather bought the land on the seafront and opened the park in 1896 – Amanda took over in 2004.
Her father, the hugely respected Geoffrey Thompson, died on her wedding day. “It was a complete shock. He died on the Saturday, I was in the office on the Sunday and the bank were in on the Monday.”
With barely time to grieve, Amanda threw herself into the role, determined to improve the park and Blackpool’s fortunes. “I had one choice – I sunk or I swam and I wasn’t going to sink, i’m a fighter.”
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