Bruce Thomson

Bruce Ewan Thomson was born in November 1930 in Assam, India, the son of tea planters. Aged six, he was sent back to Scotland for his education. First at Angusfield Preparatory school, then Aberdeen Grammar and finally Glenalmond College in Perthshire.

Here rugby soon became his focus, representing the school’s 1st XV at all ages.

His other great passion was the Highland bagpipes. At the age of 13 he became the Pipe Major of the school pipe band, on one occasion playing for and then meeting the Queen Mother.

On completing National Service with the Gordon Highlanders, Thomson went to Keble College, Oxford University.

Here he gained two Rugby Blues and played in several Major Stanley’s matches attracting the attention of the Scotland selectors, who chose him to represent his country as a prop forward in 1953 against France, Ireland and Wales. A knee injury in the third match ended his international career.

Having graduated from Oxford with an Honours Degree in history, Thomson went on to play for the London Scottish and, while training in medicine, to captain the London Hospital’s rugby XV.

He qualified in medicine and spent the next thirty years working as a GP in Horsham, Sussex, while raising a family.

Bruce was a prolific composer for the bagpipes, producing almost 500 tunes over the years. His compositions have appeared in collections by the Gordon Highlanders and the Scots Guards.

In later life he retired to Crieff and on more than one occasion was asked to pipe for the Queen at Holyrood House.

He died peacefully at home in Crieff last month and is survived by his two sons James and Ewan and seven grandchildren.

Scottish Rugby extends its sincere condolences to Bruce Thomson’s family and friends.

Bruce Thomson is pictured above in the front row, second from right, in a scrum-cap ahead of the 1953 fixture with France in Colombes.