Alexander Robert Thomson died suddenly of heart failure at Cape Town on February 5th, 1945, at the age of 77.
He began his career with eighteen years’ experience in Scottish coal mines, but in 1895 was appointed rock drill boss with the Orion Gold Mining Co., Johannesburg. He remained there only five months, and then spent twelve years as mining contractor and mine official in various appointments, his principal positions being with the Malvern Gold Mining Co., the Matabele Sheba Gold Mining Co., the Antenior Gold Mining Co., and the East Gwanda mine in Southern Rhodesia.
In 1908 Mr. Thomson began his association with Wankie Colliery Co., Ltd. He held the position of general manager for 25 years, and under his management output rose from 12,000 tons to over 100,000 tons a month. In 1933 he was appointed resident director, but of recent years, owing to the state of his health, he usually lived in Cape Town. He was also a director of Bushtick Mines (1934), Ltd.
An outstanding personality in Rhodesia, Mr. Thomson was elected a Member of the Rhodesian Parliament on its formation, and was also a Justice of the Peace.
He was elected to Membership of the Institution in 1938.
Vol. 55, Trans IMM 1945-46, pp.578-9
