Dumfriesshire's John Thomson leaves a lasting legacy

John Thomson captured with one of his books in the series on Annan
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Dumfriesshire auctioneer, author and historian, John Thomson, has died peacefully at his home in Annan, aged 100.

John Alexander Thomson (1924-2024) was born in Annan in October 1924, the youngest of three children. His father, Matthew John Thomson, was a livestock auctioneer with family marts in Annan and Dumfries and his mother`s family farmed at Pratis in Fife.

John was brought up in the auctioneering business and as a very small boy at his family home, The Elms, would hold auction sales with his young sister as the clerk. He used to recall being in the marts at an early age and waiting at night in the signal box at Annan Station for the livestock trains to come and go.

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Six years ago Annan auctioneer John Thomson was awarded a lifetime achievement award
Six years ago Annan auctioneer John Thomson was awarded a lifetime achievement award -Credit:Dumfries and Galloway standard

John was educated at Annan Academy, Dalhousie Castle School and latterly Fettes College in Edinburgh.

He served in the army during the war managing to survive the severe crash of his motorbike with a tank resulting in a long spell in hospital and then continuing service in the transport corps.

He often recalled the immensity of the preparations for D Day which he played a small part in supplying. His best friends at each of his three schools were killed in the war.

With peace-time he returned home to work with his father in the family auctioneering businesses of Thomson & Laurie of Dumfries and Kirkpatrick Thomson & Co of Annan.

These, along with the Nithsdale Auction Company of Thornhill, were amalgamated to form Thomson, Roddick & Laurie Ltd.

New T.B. accredited marts were built in both Annan and Dumfries.

Many hundreds of Ayrshire and other dairy cattle were sold each week by the firm and John made huge strides in the development of Annan and Thornhill Marts as major sheep sale centres.

John Thomson in his auctioneer role
John Thomson in his auctioneer role

He had a great love of Cheviot sheep and the farmers and shepherds who looked after them on the Border hills. His annual visit to his many Borders` friends and clients was much looked forward to.

The development of the hugely successful Cheviot Mule breeding sheep was initiated by Walter Hume of Yarrow and named by John, who put a great deal into the promotion of this cross to an initially sceptical audience.

He developed a strong farm-property sales business and took an active interest in the family`s fine art auction businesses and, later, in their involvement with the Longtown based business of C. &D. Auction Marts Ltd – believed to be the largest sheep market in Europe.

John Thomson remembered
John Thomson remembered

John had a lifetime interest in politics and was, for a time, national chairman of the Scottish Young Conservatives, then a much greater organisation than it is now.

Politics led him to meet his future wife, Margery McFarlane – daughter of Sir Charles McFarlane MP. He and Margery married at Beeswing in 1951.

John had Polio in 1957 and was off work for a year, but was much more fortunate than many who had that disease.

He farmed at Shawhill, Annan and at Archbank, Moffat and always took a keen interest in the farming activities of his children and grandchildren including their Shawhill Shorthorn Herd.

He followed in his father`s footsteps by serving a term as President of the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland. He was also a member of the Livestock Markets Committee for England and Wales and served on a number of Agricultural Advisory Committees.

John Thomson in his auctioneer role
John Thomson in his auctioneer role

At the age of 94, he received the prestigious Farmers Guardian Auctioneers` Lifetime Achievement Award.

John and Margery travelled extensively pursuing his historical interests and this lifelong interest in history led John to write some eight books on subjects ranging from smuggling to farming, but with the emphasis on the history of livestock marketing with three definitive and successful publications on the history of fairs and markets in Scotland and Northern England.

In particular his Scottish based work, Ring of Memories, has gone into several editions.

He continued to work on his many research projects until his death.

His three volume history of his birthplace, Annan – where his grandfather had been Provost and Burgh Treasurer – ensured that he was constantly consulted on matters relating to the town`s past and he was instrumental, with others, in establishing the town`s museum.

He was much loved by his four children, eight grand-children and ten great-grandchildren – to whom he was a great support.

The funeral is private at his request, but donations in his memory to the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI) may be made: c/o C & D Rural (Louisa Thomson), Auction Mart, Longtown CA6 5LY.