Mr Walter S. Thomson MBE BSc (Hons) MIET, September 1942 - June 2021
Published: Mon 5 Jul 2021
Former Strategic Planning Director at BAE Systems’ Avionics Group
Walter started his long and illustrious career with Ferranti in Edinburgh in the 1960s after achieving a first-class honours degree in Electrical Engineering from Heriot-Watt University.
Even before joining the company, Walter was showing signs of being a committed engineer being awarded the University’s prestigious Watt Club Medal for achieving the greatest distinction in his course.
During his time at university, Walter began his working relationship with Ferranti through vacation work at the Robertson Avenue site.
On graduating, in August 1964 this led to a full-time job in the company as an engineer and his leadership skills were soon recognised as he became a project leader.
As the company went through transformations from Ferranti to GEC Marconi to BAE Systems, Walter remained loyal to the business through a variety of developmental roles from Technical Director to Business Development Director to his final role at retiral: Strategic Planning Director of the Avionics Group in BAE Systems.
Walter’s specialist work focusing on electro-optics in avionics, and in particular, the TIALD system was recognised when he received an MBE in 1991 for services in the Gulf War conflict.
Being a modest man and part of the team being recognised, Walter was always keen to be clear that he was accepting the medal not only on his behalf but on theirs too.
Following retirement, Walter joined SERMS (South East Retired Members Scotland) in 2005. He joined two other recent members, Ian Currier MBE TD BSc CEng FIET and Nigel Shepherd MA MSc CEng MIET and rapidly got involved in setting up the programme of events alongside the Programme Secretary, Frank McCall CEng MIET.
As the Section made the transition from a retired members group, Walter applied his excellent talents to planning the programme then subsequently handling the accounts as Treasurer until 2011, becoming News Editor to record the Section’s exploits and producing a Newsletter.
He applied his skills to bring the Section into the current management and presentation methods using the IET’s modern IT systems.
Walter was a keen rugby fan, enjoyed sociable Gaelic classes, sang tenor in a local community choir, and he embedded his passion for spreadsheets throughout the family life that was so important to him.
During his time with SERMS – since 2015, renamed SESAME – he was always deeply involved in subjects for events and talks on behalf of members and students.
His professional background ensured a local knowledge of technical and engineering organisations that was extensive, which the Section used to provide important presentations of relevant subjects for talks and visits.
He worked quietly, confidently, and with well-researched information to provide a good lead to the committee for its deliberations.
His help to the Section over the past 16 years has been invaluable and he will be greatly missed by all his friends and colleagues.