Tommy Finlayson
Encyclopedia
Thomas James Finlayson MBE
, commonly known as Tommy Finlayson (Gibraltar
, 1 May 1938), is a Gibraltarian
historian
. He is also a former cricket
er and archivist
of the Gibraltar Archives.
He is the eldest brother of Clive Finlayson, the director of the Gibraltar Museum.
descent, have been established on The Rock
since the early 19th century. When World War II
broke out he was evacuated, as was most of the civilian population of Gibraltar, with his family across the strait
to French Morocco. Only a few weeks later, following the defeat of France and the armistice with Germany, the French authorities expelled the evacuees which the War Office
then decided to transfer to London
via Gibraltar. Finlayson and his family were taken to London aboard the Athlone Castle
in July 1940. They lived in the Evacuee Centre
at the Empire Pool
in Wembley
until they were once again relocated to a camp in County Antrim
, Northern Ireland
in 1944. Still a young boy, Finlayson attended the Gibraltar Grammar School following his repatriation
to The Rock
, once the war had ended. He later studied at the University of Edinburgh
where he obtained an honours
MA
in history
.
and continued in Gibraltar upon his return in 1982. In 1985, after 25 years of teaching, he was appointed archivist at the Gibraltar Archives by the Government of Gibraltar. He maintained this position from the 1980s to the early 2000s. At the same time, he wrote a number of books and articles on the contemporary history of Gibraltar
. The most notable being The Fortress Came First. The story of the civilian population of Gibraltar during the Second World War (1990), which was described as "the definitive work on the wartime evacuation of Gibraltarian civilians".
. In March 2009 he received the 2008 Lifetime Service Award by International Cricket Council
Europe in recognition of his services to cricket in Gibraltar.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, commonly known as Tommy Finlayson (Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
, 1 May 1938), is a Gibraltarian
Gibraltarian people
The Gibraltarians are a cultural group native to Gibraltar, a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance to the Mediterranean sea.- Origins :...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
. He is also a former cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er and archivist
Archivist
An archivist is a professional who assesses, collects, organizes, preserves, maintains control over, and provides access to information determined to have long-term value. The information maintained by an archivist can be any form of media...
of the Gibraltar Archives.
He is the eldest brother of Clive Finlayson, the director of the Gibraltar Museum.
Early life
Tommy Finlayson was born in Gibraltar on 1 May 1938. His family, of ScottishScottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
descent, have been established on The Rock
Rock of Gibraltar
The Rock of Gibraltar is a monolithic limestone promontory located in Gibraltar, off the southwestern tip of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It is high...
since the early 19th century. When World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out he was evacuated, as was most of the civilian population of Gibraltar, with his family across the strait
Strait of Gibraltar
The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Spain in Europe from Morocco in Africa. The name comes from Gibraltar, which in turn originates from the Arabic Jebel Tariq , albeit the Arab name for the Strait is Bab el-Zakat or...
to French Morocco. Only a few weeks later, following the defeat of France and the armistice with Germany, the French authorities expelled the evacuees which the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
then decided to transfer to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
via Gibraltar. Finlayson and his family were taken to London aboard the Athlone Castle
Union-Castle Line
The Union-Castle Line was a prominent British shipping line that operated a fleet of passenger liners and cargo ships between Europe and Africa from 1900 to 1977. It was formed from the merger of the Union Line and Castle Shipping Line...
in July 1940. They lived in the Evacuee Centre
Emergency shelter
Emergency shelters are places for people to live temporarily when they can't live in their previous residence, similar to homeless shelters. The main difference is that an emergency shelter typically specializes in people fleeing a specific type of situation, such as natural or man-made disasters,...
at the Empire Pool
Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena is an indoor arena, at Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent. The building is opposite Wembley Stadium.-History:...
in Wembley
Wembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
until they were once again relocated to a camp in County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
in 1944. Still a young boy, Finlayson attended the Gibraltar Grammar School following his repatriation
Repatriation
Repatriation is the process of returning a person back to one's place of origin or citizenship. This includes the process of returning refugees or soldiers to their place of origin following a war...
to The Rock
Rock of Gibraltar
The Rock of Gibraltar is a monolithic limestone promontory located in Gibraltar, off the southwestern tip of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It is high...
, once the war had ended. He later studied at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
where he obtained an honours
Honors student
An honors student is a person recognized for achieving high grades or high marks in their course work.Honors students may refer to# Students recognized for their academic achievement on lists published periodically throughout the school year, known as honor rolls, varying from school to school, and...
MA
Master of Arts (Scotland)
A Master of Arts in Scotland can refer to an undergraduate academic degree in humanities and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland – the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh, while the University of...
in history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
.
Professional career
Finlayson later opted for a career in teaching, which he pursued in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and continued in Gibraltar upon his return in 1982. In 1985, after 25 years of teaching, he was appointed archivist at the Gibraltar Archives by the Government of Gibraltar. He maintained this position from the 1980s to the early 2000s. At the same time, he wrote a number of books and articles on the contemporary history of Gibraltar
History of Gibraltar
The history of Gibraltar portrays how The Rock gained an importance and a reputation far exceeding its size, influencing and shaping the people who came to reside here over the centuries.-Prehistoric:...
. The most notable being The Fortress Came First. The story of the civilian population of Gibraltar during the Second World War (1990), which was described as "the definitive work on the wartime evacuation of Gibraltarian civilians".
Cricket
Finlayson has also taken an active part in Gibraltar cricket; as a player, Secretary and currently Chairman of the Gibraltar Cricket AssociationGibraltar Cricket Association
Gibraltar Cricket Association is the official governing body of the sport of cricket in Gibraltar. Its current headquarters is at 1st Floor, GFSB, Irish Town, Gibraltar. The Gibraltar Cricket Association is Gibraltar's representative at the International Cricket Council and is an associate member...
. In March 2009 he received the 2008 Lifetime Service Award by International Cricket Council
International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council is the international governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.The...
Europe in recognition of his services to cricket in Gibraltar.