E B Thompson joined E.K.Cole in 1937 in the Thermovent Sales Department - being taken on by Mr Lipman.
In 1940 he joined the exodus to Malmesbury and over time took over responsibility for the management and smooth running of the Ministry of Supply contracts, where there were many occasions when he would go and collect parts from suppliers such was the urgency to keep radar production flowing, eventually he became Mick Lipman's second in command.
Returning to Southend in 1945 he was part of the post war team getting domestic manufacturing started again and using his 'sales' expertise, he undertook various overseas trips setting up and selling EKCO products.
In the early 1950's he became Sales Manager for EKCO Electronics and amonst other products, he worked hard to get 'Weather Radar' adopted by airlines as well as military customers.
He was also a well-respected member of the Engineering and Scientific community and in the early 1960's became the Chairman of the Nucleonics Group of the Scientific Manufacturers Association.
In the mid 1960's he became 'Director and Commercial Manager' of EKCO Electronics (renamed EKCO Avionics in 1968) a role he held until he retired.
