| Biography | Sir Frederick William Pontin (24 October 1906 - 30 September 2000) was born in Highams Park, the son of Frederick William Pontin and Elizabeth Marian Tilyard and was knighted in 1976. He died in Blackpool aged 93. He had a successful career in the city's Stock Exchange. He attended Sir George Monoux Grammar School in Walthamstow. During World War II, he was involved in helping to establish hostels for construction workers. Based on this experience, he decided to move into the holiday camp business after the war. He formed a company to buy an old disused camp at Brean Sands near Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset in 1946. This was the start of the company known as Pontins and the popular Pontins Southport resort. |