Blackpool set to bid farewell to business guru Geoff Reeves

Geoff, a former managing director of Coca Cola in the UK, has helped several hundred people start their own businesses, through his work with the council’s Get Started programme.

An inspirational speaker, he encouraged, advised and supported people to realize their ideas, develop business plans, access finance and start their own businesses in the city.

Geoff retired last August from his role as business advisor. In recent years, he had fought to regain his health after suffering from cancer.

The funeral will be held on Wednesday, April 6 at 11:45 a.m. at the Carleton Crematorium. It will be followed by a wake at Thornton Lodge. Geoff’s family said they would welcome those who would like to bid farewell. They are only asking for family flowers, but any personal donations can be made to Cancer Research or Age UK in Geoff’s memory.

He was described by former Labor MP for Blackpool South, Gordon Marsden, as a “very warm, supportive and nurturing person, a great servant to Blackpool who deserves to be remembered fondly”.

Geoff, originally from Grange Park, was well known for his brightly colored shirts and socks. Passionate about diving, he created his own diving teaching companies H2OSport and Marine, after working for Coca Cola.

After eight years he was looking for a new challenge and saw an advert in The Gazette, from The Prince’s Trust looking for someone to help young people start businesses. Although he only accompanied for a

cat, he ended up spending 15 years on what became Get Started.