Journalist, stockbroker and former financial editor at The Herald
Born: March 11, 1939;
Died: July 30, 2018
JIMMY Thompson (widely known as Paddy), who has died aged 79, was a journalist and stockbroker who worked at the Financial Times and as financial editor at The Herald.
Born in Belfast, in 1939, he was declared by the gynaecologist as the longest baby he had ever delivered. Paddy was brought up on a farm in Eglington with his two sisters, Isabel and Jess, but it soon became clear he did not have the body of a farmer. What he did possess was the mind of a mathematician, getting 100 per cent in maths at Mourne Grange, his primary school, which nestled by the Mountains of Mourne.
At 11 years old he joined Loretto School in Musselburgh, East Lothian, where that brilliant mind was developed. It was there he became known as Paddy and the nickname stuck. On leaving school, he went on to train as a stockbroker at Buchanan, Gairdner & Tennant in Glasgow, where his sporting career also flourished. He played cricket for West of Scotland and tennis at Kelvinside Tennis Club.
Rugby, however, was his greatest love and he joined West of Scotland RFC in 1957. Over the years he remained a loyal supporter of the club and made major contributions to its development in many ways. In 1962 two South African boys came to play at West – Louis DeWaal and Don Campbell. They all became great friends and in 1997 Louis and Paddy organised the first amateur multi-racial rugby tour to come and play in Glasgow and Edinburgh. The Pond Hotel, now the Leonardo Inn, off Great Western Road was used as a base and it was likely a few of the team ended up in nearby Bingham’s Pond after indulging in a few post-match refreshments. Over the years there were many visits to Cape Town to further forge links between West and False Bay rugby clubs.
In 1962 Mr Thompson moved to London and joined the Financial Times as a journalist. During his time there, he played for London Scottish RFC and substituted in the London Springbok team when they were short. He also played cricket at Teddington.
Two years later, he moved to New York to join Morgan Guarantee Trust where he joined Westchester Rugby Club and gave his American colleagues an education in not only the game he loved but also how to down several beers.
It was during a two-day trip to Vancouver that he met Scot Alison Cowan and he coaxed her back home where they married. In 1965, on his return to Scotland, he worked as the financial editor of The Glasgow Herald, as it was known then, where he remained for five years.
He returned to his investment roots in 1970, working for portfolio management Singer & Friedlander, James Finlay and Brewin Dolphin. Hiss great talent was cultivating private clients and he found the worlds of journalism, rugby and the financial sector fertile ground for developing a wide network of contacts.
John Cumming, Paddy’s former colleague at James Finlay, recalled Paddy being described as “rugby royalty” such was his knowledge of the game and the long-lasting associations he built between clubs.
His loyalties always remained with West and he ensuring the club continued to thrive by supporting the bar and the infamous 2A’s.
He retired from the financial industry in 1999, when he was able to devote even more time to his great passions.
In addition to rugby, he also played golf at East Renfrewshire and Buchanan Castle Golf Clubs where he played to a handicap of eight and was a keen member of the Brass Monkey golfing society, which played over the winter months. He was also an elder and treasurer for 40 years at Buchanan Parish Church, Milton of Buchanan.
He will be remembered by all for his generosity, social contribution, his comradery, his sharp mind, his infectious smile and above all how much he valued his friends and family.
He died on July 30, 2018, at home with his family, peacefully after a long illness. He is survived by his wife Alison, daughters Heather, Jennifer and Patricia and grandchildren Jeannie and Patrick and sons-in-law David, Peter and Jamie.
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