Brian Harold Thomson
- November 7, 2006
- 87 years
About Brian Harold Thomson
Brian Harold Thomson, 87, British businessman, chairman of D.C. Thomson & Co. Ltd.
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Full Biography
|Colonel Brian Harold Thomson (21 November 1918 – 7 November 2006) was a newspaper proprietor of D. C. Thomson & Co. and soldier in the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry. He was widely known as "Mr Brian" within D. C. Thomson & Co. and throughout the business community of Dundee.
Education
Brian was educated at Charterhouse and spent a year in Germany before joining the family firm (D. C. Thomson & Co.) in 1937.
DC Thomson & Co.
Brian Thomson was a great-grandson of William Harold Thomson, a Dundonian who prospered first as a draper and later as a shipowner, and in 1884 became the major shareholder of The Dundee Courier & Daily Argus.
William's son, David Couper Thomson, became general manager of the paper, and in 1905 a growing portfolio of newspaper interests was consolidated as D. C. Thomson & Co..
David Couper Thomson remained chairman of the company until his death, aged 93, in 1954; but it was his nephew, Harold (Brian's father), who drove the expansion of its publishing interests, particularly in the field of comics. The Sunday Post, launched in 1914, introduced a "Fun" section in 1936 which became home to iconic cartoon characters such as Oor Wullie and the Broons.
Brian became a joint Managing Director in 1948 and succeeded his father as chairman in 1974. He conducted business according to strict principles of fairness and courtesy. He did not believe that his company's affairs were the concern of anyone but himself and his board, and he almost never spoke about them to the outside world.
His publications upheld traditional Scottish family values and tastes, typified by the homely tone of the Sunday Post and by magazine titles such as Classic Stitches.
Military service
In September 1939 he joined the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry. Posted to Montgomery's Eighth Army in early 1943 and served in armoured cars in North Africa and in the intense battles fighting up the spine of Italy.
After the war he continued to serve in the Yeomanry. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and from 1953 to 1955 he commanded his Regiment, the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry.
Family life and private life
He married in 1947 Patricia Cunninghame (died 1991) and had one son Christopher, now chairman of D. C. Thomson & Co., and four daughters.
He loved his garden and woodlands, enjoyed shooting, and was a fine golfer at Royal and Ancient at St Andrews, where he reached the final of the Jubilee Vase in 1953; he continued to play regularly until he was well into his eighties.
Brian Thomson was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Fife in 1988.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Articles & News
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Harold_Thomson
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Brian Harold Thomson's archived record and the sources above.
1.In which regions did Brian Harold Thomson serve during the Second World War?
- A.Belgium and Norway
- B.North Africa and Italycorrect
- C.Greece and Egypt
- D.France and Germany
Brian Harold Thomson served in armoured cars in North Africa and Italy during the war.
Source: military service section
2.What rank did Brian Harold Thomson hold when he commanded his regiment from 1953 to 1955?
- A.Colonel
- B.Major
- C.Lieutenant-colonelcorrect
- D.Captain
Brian Harold Thomson reached the rank of lieutenant-colonel and commanded his regiment from 1953 to 1955.
Source: military service section
3.When did Brian Harold Thomson become the chairman of D. C. Thomson & Co.?
- A.1974correct
- B.1954
- C.1984
- D.1964
Brian Harold Thomson succeeded his father as chairman of the company in 1974.
Source: DC Thomson & Co. section
4.Who did Brian Harold Thomson marry in 1947?
- A.Patricia Cunninghamecorrect
- B.Margaret Sinclair
- C.Elizabeth Thomson
- D.Catherine Campbell
Brian Harold Thomson married Patricia Cunninghame in 1947.
Source: family life and private life section
5.How many daughters did Brian Harold Thomson have?
- A.Three
- B.Fourcorrect
- C.Two
- D.Five
Brian Harold Thomson and his wife had one son and four daughters.
Source: family life and private life section
6.At which golf club was Brian Harold Thomson a fine player?
- A.Carnoustie Golf Links
- B.Turnberry
- C.Gleneagles
- D.Royal and Ancient at St Andrewscorrect
Brian Harold Thomson was a fine golfer at the Royal and Ancient at St Andrews.
Source: family life and private life section
7.What position did Brian Harold Thomson hold in Fife starting in 1988?
- A.Lord Provost
- B.Deputy Lieutenantcorrect
- C.High Sheriff
- D.Justice of the Peace
Brian Harold Thomson was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Fife in 1988.
Source: family life and private life section
8.What is the name of Brian Harold Thomson's son who is now chairman of D. C. Thomson & Co.?
- A.William
- B.Harold
- C.Christophercorrect
- D.David
Brian Harold Thomson's son, Christopher, is now the chairman of D. C. Thomson & Co.
Source: family life and private life section
9.In what year did the Sunday Post launch?
- A.1905
- B.1936
- C.1914correct
- D.1954
The Sunday Post was launched in 1914.
Source: DC Thomson & Co. section
10.Which iconic cartoon characters appeared in the Sunday Post's 'Fun' section?
- A.Oor Wullie and the Broonscorrect
- B.Dennis the Menace and Minnie the Minx
- C.Beryl the Peril and Roger the Dodger
- D.Desperate Dan and Korky the Cat
The Sunday Post's fun section became home to iconic cartoon characters such as Oor Wullie and the Broons.
Source: DC Thomson & Co. section
11.When did Brian Harold Thomson pass away?
- A.21 November 2005
- B.7 November 2005
- C.21 November 2006
- D.7 November 2006correct
Brian Harold Thomson passed away on 7 November 2006.
Source: introduction
12.What is the full birth date of Colonel Brian Harold Thomson?
- A.12 December 1919
- B.21 December 1918
- C.21 November 1918correct
- D.12 November 1919
Brian Harold Thomson was born on 21 November 1918.
Source: introduction
13.Which educational institution did Brian Harold Thomson attend?
- A.Charterhousecorrect
- B.Rugby School
- C.Eton College
- D.Harrow School
Brian Harold Thomson was educated at Charterhouse.
Source: education section
14.What year did Brian Harold Thomson join the family firm, D. C. Thomson & Co.?
- A.1937correct
- B.1935
- C.1941
- D.1939
Brian Harold Thomson joined the family firm in 1937 after spending a year in Germany.
Source: education section
15.Who was the great-grandfather of Brian Harold Thomson?
- A.Harold Thomson
- B.William Harold Thomsoncorrect
- C.David Couper Thomson
- D.Christopher Thomson
Brian Harold Thomson was a great-grandson of William Harold Thomson.
Source: DC Thomson & Co. section
16.Which military unit did Brian Harold Thomson join in September 1939?
- A.Black Watch
- B.Scottish Horse
- C.Fife and Forfar Yeomanrycorrect
- D.Royal Scots Greys
Brian Harold Thomson joined the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in September 1939.
Source: military service section
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