Ken Thomson

Ken Thomson (1949–2020) was a Queen’s Scout, Area Commissioner, Chair of the Scottish Board and trainer of generations of volunteers, with fifty-three years of unbroken service to Scouting.

Ken Thomson and Andy Matthews, both in kilts, with a certificate being presented in a church

Ken with Andy Matthews, then Chief Commissioner for Scotland.

A life in Scouting

Ken’s Scouting took him from a troop in Davidson’s Mains to the boards of Scottish and UK Scouting, and back again to the new Region. This account draws on the tribute compiled by Alan Willoughby and John Bruce.

1950s

A Scout in Davidson’s Mains

Ken joined Scouting in the 1950s with the 30th Midlothian at Davidson’s Mains, a troop founded in 1924. In 1967 he became a Queen’s Scout and, that same year, took out his first warrant as an Assistant Cub Scout Leader.

1968

Building a troop

With the troop now the 30th Inverleith, Ken built it into a strong, large troop that eventually split in two in the late 1970s. In 1979 he became Assistant District Commissioner for Scouts in Inverleith, a District with more than 400 Scouts.

1980

District Commissioner for Liberton

Ken built a lively District that included Groups at the Royal Blind School and Dr Guthrie’s school, alongside Groups in the Inch, Gilmerton, Burdiehouse and Gracemount. Friendships formed there lasted a lifetime.

1985

The Sri Lanka Water Expedition

Planned from 1983, the expedition took more than 20 Venture Scouts and 12 leaders, led by Ken and his wife Alison, to Sri Lanka to build wells and help bring clean water to villages. The team still meets, and many stayed in Scouting. In 1986 Ken became a Leader Trainer after an advanced course at Gilwell Park, beginning thirty years of training volunteers.

1988–1998

Edinburgh Area Commissioner

Ten years full of activity: new reports and structures, Scout Trek camps for 14 to 25-year-olds, closer links with Guiding, and new buildings at Forth Lodge and Longcraig.

Read more about Ken’s ten years as Area Commissioner

Highlights included the Scouting into the 90s report; a review that created a seven-District Area with a new Blackford District and an enlarged Leith; a celebration service in the Assembly Hall on the Mound in November 1994; a European project on Scout methods based on an Edinburgh troop; a joint Scouting and Guiding conference; the integration of six Groups from West Lothian and Midlothian; and the “Scouts go for a million” campaign, which saw a million millimetres of haggis cooked at a Bonaly Open Day.

1998–2008

Leading Scouting in Scotland

Having joined the Scottish Committee in 1994, Ken became its Chair in 1998, steering Scottish Scouting through the run-up to the centenary and the first stages of regionalisation until November 2007. He also served on the UK Board from 2006 and chaired its Finance Committee. In 2007 he led the centenary camp at Dalmeny.

2008–2016

Training the new Region

When South East Scotland Region was formed in 2008, Ken took on adult training, organising courses and conferences and supporting volunteers across Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders despite ill health. He was Deputy Regional Commissioner from 2013 to 2016, and became a Regional Vice President in 2016.

2003

The Silver Wolf

In 2003, Ken received the Silver Wolf, Scouting’s highest award for exceptional service, following the Silver Acorn and Bar, the Medal of Merit and his 50-year long service award.

Beyond Scouting

Ken was a highly regarded teacher and headteacher. He taught at several Edinburgh schools, was deputy head and then headteacher at Drummond Community High School, and later headteacher at Lasswade Community High School.

He was also heavily involved in Rotary in Edinburgh and Dalkeith, serving as President in Dalkeith.

2020

Ken’s Den

Ken died on 20 May 2020. A memorial fund was set up the following month, and Ken’s wife, Alison, made a personal donation in his memory, asking that it first be used to create something new at Bonaly for younger members.

The result was Ken’s Den: a small “village” of huts near the Baronial Hall, with space for a Beaver Colony and their leaders to stay, opened by Alison.

His legacy is not simply the positions he held, but the opportunities he helped other people create.

Book Ken’s Den at Bonaly

Sources: Tribute to Ken Thomson · A lasting legacy · Ken’s Den, the new village at Bonaly

Alison Thomson at the opening of Ken’s Den, beside a wooden archway decorated with bunting

Alison Thomson opens Ken’s Den.

The huts, benches and campfire circle of Ken’s Den at Bonaly

Ken’s Den at Bonaly.

Continue exploring

Bonaly becomes a Scout campsite

The story of the campsite at the foot of the Pentlands, home to Ken’s Den.

The 30th Craigalmond oral history

A century of memories from Ken’s first Scout Group, gathered by its young people. Opens in a new tab.

One Region

How four Areas became South East Scotland, and what came next.