Thomas Thomson passed away in early May after a short illness. Known to many as Mr T, he ran Thomsons Hardware in Radstock for fifty years.
He made many friends working in the shop and was well known as the person to go to for advice – he could fix just about anything. He always knew what product was needed and where to find it!
He took the shop over from Mr Tilley in 1973, but he was not always a shopkeeper.
He trained as an industrial chemist and worked for many years producing pharmaceuticals.
He worked on the very first batches of paracetamol. Strange to think of a world before paracetamol!
He was born in Scotland, but the family soon moved to rural Dorset, where his Father worked in a paper mill.
He and his younger brother and sister had the run of the village, and he had many tales of the mischief they got up to. On one occasion he fell into the paper mill water race, and was swept through the sluice gates, scared but unharmed!
As a young man he was a keen motorcyclist and an accomplished scrambles rider.
The whole family was involved in running the shop, with his daughter and two sons, and Mrs T all helping out.
He also had many marvellous staff over the years.
It was not until his late 80’s that he retired from his place behind the counter, although he remained actively involved until the last.
The shop will now be run by his daughter and sons, and the business will continue to serve Radstock for many years to come!