Roy Hendry Thomson
Encyclopedia
Roy Hendry Thomson KStJ, DL, MA, MLitt (27 August 1932 – 29 November 2009) was a businessman, public servant and political activist, based in Aberdeen
.
and gained an MA (honours) in psychology from the University of Aberdeen
in 1955, later joining the British Psychological Society
. He married Nancy in 1952 and they had three children. He attended national service
in the Gordon Highlanders between 1955 and 1957. He was a Knight of the Order of St John and a Deputy Lieutenant
of the City of Aberdeen until August 2007. He also received an MLitt in 2009, writing his thesis on the contribution made by the Scottish Constitutional Convention
to the re-establishment of the Scottish Parliament
. He was an avid skier and hill-walker.
and, before that, the Scottish Liberal Party
. He was an elected local councillor on Aberdeen District Council, later becoming the first Liberal Leader of the Council. He also acted as the election agent for Malcolm Bruce
MP in the Gordon
constituency in 1979 and 1983. He was also active within the Party nationally, serving as both Chairman and later President of the Party, presiding over the Party during the 1999 Scottish Parliament elections
and its entry into Government for the first time since the wartime coalition under Winston Churchill
. At the time of his death, he was (for the second time) serving as Scotland's representative on the Party's UK-wide Executive Committee.
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
.
Early and personal life
Thomson attended Aberdeen Grammar SchoolAberdeen Grammar School
Aberdeen Grammar School, known to students as The Grammar is a state secondary school in the City of Aberdeen, Scotland. It is one of twelve secondary schools run by the Aberdeen City Council educational department...
and gained an MA (honours) in psychology from the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
in 1955, later joining the British Psychological Society
British Psychological Society
The British Psychological Society is a representative body for psychologists and psychology in the United Kingdom. The BPS is also a Registered Charity and, along with advantages, this also imposes certain constraints on what the society can and cannot do...
. He married Nancy in 1952 and they had three children. He attended national service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
in the Gordon Highlanders between 1955 and 1957. He was a Knight of the Order of St John and a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of the City of Aberdeen until August 2007. He also received an MLitt in 2009, writing his thesis on the contribution made by the Scottish Constitutional Convention
Scottish Constitutional Convention
The Scottish Constitutional Convention was an association of Scottish political parties, churches and other civic groups, that developed a framework for a Scottish devolution. It is credited as having paved the way for the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.The Convention was...
to the re-establishment of the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
. He was an avid skier and hill-walker.
Business
Between 1960 and 1988, Thomson and his family owned a series of well-known car dealerships throughout the North East of Scotland, known as Thomson of Cults.Political activity
Thomson was a long-standing and senior member of the Scottish Liberal DemocratsScottish Liberal Democrats
The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England...
and, before that, the Scottish Liberal Party
Scottish Liberal Party
The Scottish Liberal Party was the dominant political party of Victorian Scotland, and although its importance declined with the rise of the Labour and Unionist parties during the 20th century, it was still a significant force when it finally merged with the Social Democratic Party in Scotland, to...
. He was an elected local councillor on Aberdeen District Council, later becoming the first Liberal Leader of the Council. He also acted as the election agent for Malcolm Bruce
Malcolm Bruce
Malcolm Gray Bruce, MP is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Gordon. He has been the chairman of the International Development Select Committee since 2005.-Early life:...
MP in the Gordon
Gordon (UK Parliament constituency)
Gordon is a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom , which elects one member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
constituency in 1979 and 1983. He was also active within the Party nationally, serving as both Chairman and later President of the Party, presiding over the Party during the 1999 Scottish Parliament elections
Scottish Parliament election, 1999
The Scottish Parliament election, 1999 was the first general election of the Scottish Parliament, with voting taking place on 6 May 1999 to elect 129 members...
and its entry into Government for the first time since the wartime coalition under Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
. At the time of his death, he was (for the second time) serving as Scotland's representative on the Party's UK-wide Executive Committee.
Other public and community service
- Former Chairman of Scottish BalletScottish BalletScottish Ballet is the national ballet company of Scotland and one of the four leading ballet companies of the United Kingdom, alongside the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet...
(1983–1987) - Former Member, the Broadcasting Council for Scotland
- Former President and Founder of Aberdeen Mountain Rescue Association
- Former President of the Rotary Club of Aberdeen
- Former Marketing Director of Aberdeen International Youth FestivalAberdeen International Youth FestivalAberdeen International Youth Festival is a leading Festival of Youth Arts, and one of Scotland's major international cultural events.Every year Aberdeen International Youth Festival attracts over 1000 of the most talented young people in performing arts companies and music groups from across the...
- Former Chairman of Aberdeen International Children's Festival (aka Kaleidoscope)
- President of Mental Health Aberdeen
- Chairman, Friends of Aberdeen University Library