> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Founder of Drayton Manor Theme Park dies
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/founder-of-drayton-manor-theme-park-dies/
- Published: 2013-09-20T12:51:58.000Z
- Updated: 2013-09-20T12:59:05.000Z
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 19:24, News

The founder of Drayton Manor Theme Park has died.

[![George Bryan OBE with his wife Vera](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/img_20130920_145324-423964784.jpg)](//lichfieldlive.co.uk/2013/09/20/founder-of-drayton-manor-theme-park-dies/img%5F20130920%5F145324-423964784/)

George Bryan OBE with his wife Vera

George Bryan OBE passed away this morning, aged 92.

Following his marriage to Vera Cartilidge in 1942, he paid £12,000 for 80 acres of land near Lichfield and set about creating his family fun attraction.

In April 1950, Drayton Manor Park opened with one restaurant, a tea room, three hand operated rides, six rowing boats, some pedal cars and a set of second hand dodgem cars.

Today, the park continues to be run and owned by the family.

A spokesperson said: “George Bryan inspired all people he met, with his passion and humility.

“He was a devoted husband to Vera, father to Colin, Jane and Andrew, grandfather and great grandfather.”