Bruce Thomson (rugby union) explained

Bruce Thomson
Birth Date:19 November 1930
Birth Place:Assam, British India
Death Place:Crieff, Scotland
Ru Position:Prop
Ru Amateuryears:-
Ru Amateurclubs:
Ru Nationalteam:
Ru Nationalcaps:3
Ru Nationalpoints:(0)
Ru Nationalyears:1953

Bruce Thomson (19 November 1930 – 13 January 2020) was a Scotland international rugby union player. Thomson played as a Prop.[1] He was also a noted bagpiper.[2]

Rugby union career

Amateur career

Thomson played rugby for Oxford University.[3] He later played rugby for London Scottish.[2]

International career

Thomson was capped for 3 times in 1953.[4]

Outside of rugby

Medical career

Thomson became a doctor, working as a GP in Horsham, Sussex.[5]

Bagpipes

Thomson learned the bagpipes at Aberdeen Grammar School.

After school he joined the army where he was taught by Pipe Major Donald McLeod. He composed more than 450 bagpipe tunes and performed for the Queen.[2] He was influenced by Seumas MacNeill, Pipe Major Brian McRae and the members of The Royal Scottish Pipers Society.

Thomson published several books of his bagpipe tunes.[6]

Later life and death

Thomson later retired to Crieff, Perthshire.[7] He died there on 13 January 2020, at the age of 89.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bruce Ewan Thomson.
  2. Web site: Thomson's Tunes: a Scottish Retired Doctor Brings Fresh Air to the Bagpipes. Eric Anderson. MD.
  3. The Essential History of Rugby Union: Scotland. Nick Oswald and John Griffiths.
  4. Web site: Rugby Union - ESPN Scrum - Statsguru - Player analysis - Bruce Thomson - Test matches.
  5. Web site: Thomson's Tunes: a Scottish Retired Doctor Brings Fresh Air to the Bagpipes. Eric Anderson. MD.
  6. Web site: Bruce Thomson : Pipetunes.
  7. Web site: Dr Bruce Thomson - Autobiography.