Ian Thomson, who taught English, history and modern studies at Kincorth Academy, Aberdeen, has died aged 77.
He joined the school when it opened in 1971 and taught into the mid 1990s when he retired due to ill health.
Ian’s wife, Jenny, was one of the PE teachers at the school.
Sports
In his younger years, Ian played rugby for Aberdeen Academy FP and ran Kincorth Academy Judo Club.
He was born in Aberdeen in 1944, the only child of confectioner John Thomson and his wife Annie.
The family lived in Jackson Terrace and Ian attended King Street Primary School where he passed his 11-plus exams, moving briefly to Frederick Street and then on to Aberdeen Academy.
At the age of 12 his father died and, in the days before welfare, his mother worked hard to provide for him.
Brazil
When Ian left school he began work at Royal Insurance but turned down a posting to Brazil because it would have meant his mother living alone.
Instead, he enrolled at Aberdeen University to study English and history.
During his university days he met his future wife, Jennifer Yule, who was studying in Edinburgh but living at home in Aberdeen during the holidays.
After he had graduated, Ian went to teacher training college in Aberdeen and took his first post at Kaimhill Secondary School in 1970.
New school
A year later he moved to the newly-built Kincorth Academy where he remained until he retired.
Jennifer had also qualified as a teacher and joined Kincorth in 1971.
The couple married at West Church St Nicholas in July, 1973 and went on to have three of a family, Gavin, Craig and Jill.
Holidays
Family holidays were spent in the Highlands, camping in France before they tried Mediterranean destinations.
In 1980 Ian was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease but kept his illness under control for most of his life and refused to be defined by it.
An outstanding cook, in retirement Ian enjoyed indoor bowling at Summerhill and outdoors at the Transport Club and Northern Bowling Club.
Collector
He was also a regular at John Milne’s auction rooms where he would bid for anything that took his fancy from toy cars and model trains to desk and loft ladders.
Ian and Jennifer had four grandchildren: Harris, Niamh, Amy and Callum.
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