GEORGE THOMSON MEMORIAL
Prof. George Thomson was the much respected President of the Tweeddale Society for nearly ten years until his untimely death in April 2007.
George’s career in education began in the English Department of Peebles High School from which he moved to Alford Academy as Principal Teacher of English. On taking up a lecturing post at Moray House College of Education he returned to reside in Peebles where he soon became much involved in many aspects of life in this community. In 1979 he made his final career move to the University of Edinburgh where he latterly held a Personal Chair in Educational Psychology.
During his career George devoted much of his research to the study of pupils with additional needs and was always adamant that, where possible, they should be integrated into the normal life of the school. He believed that children, whatever their background or circumstances, had the ability to shine and should be given every opportunity to fulfil their potential.
The Council of the Society determined that we should, in some way, recognize the debt we owed to George and after discussions, firstly with the Rector of Peebles High School and then the staff of its Additional Needs Department, decided that a suitably engraved pewter quaich would be presented to the school as an award for the most creative and enterprising entry from students with additional needs, based on criteria agreed with members of the Additional Needs Department teaching staff.
The award will be given jointly to two pupils, one for ‘Effort’ and one for ‘Achievement’, in a project set by the Department in conjunction with the Tweeddale Society. The title and format of the undertaking may change each year and could involve any medium chosen by the pupil. The winners will be chosen by the teaching staff of the Department. A small engraved quaich will be given annually to each pupil as a permanent memento. The Main Trophy will be presented on Prizegiving Day and will be kept at the School.
The cost of engraving each year, together with the provision of small engraved quaichs for the two winners, will be met by the Society. An initial appeal to the membership realized sufficient funds to finance the award for its first 10 years, though it is expected to continue in perpetuity.
