Lecturer dies falling in fast burn

Ron Thomson, 66, had been on a night out and was separated from wife Maris as they walked to a friend’s home in the dark.

The Glasgow couple had driven to Kilchrenan, near Loch Awe, Argyll, in their camper van and were returning from the village hall’s cheese and wine event on Saturday night. They were planning to stay with local residents David and Liz Condie before setting off on holiday.

But police and fire crews found Dr Thomson’s body in Kilchrenan Burn a short distance from his friends’ home at around 5.25am on Sunday.

yesterday, Mr Condie said: ‘we don’t know the cause of death, we only know that he had injuries which presumably resulted from a fall. His wife is very, very, shocked.’

He added that Dr Thomson was ‘also a long-standing serving officer in the Territorial Army’. Dr Thom- son’s body was found near the roadside, where there is an unfenced area. It is not known if this had anything to do with the tragedy.

Mr Condie said gaps in the fence ‘are not a problem’ in daylight but they were walking after midnight.

Villager Marilyn Henderson said she had spoken to Mr Condie yesterday, adding: ‘The whole community is shocked by this tragedy.

‘They were all walking back, [Mr Condie] said they were all coming down the road and Maris thought Ron was behind her, but when she turned round he wasn’t there.

‘David spent six hours up and down the road looking for him.’

Glasgow University said: ‘we are all deeply shocked and saddened by Dr Ron Thomson’s tragic and untimely death. He took formal retirement at the end of January and had been looking forward to travelling.

‘As a lecturer in mechanics of solids, he was known to generations of students. His passion was educating the next generation of engineers and he leaves a significant legacy.’

Police Scotland said ‘inquiries are ongoing’ but they are not treating the death as suspicious. A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.

‘Deeply shocked and saddened’

A UNIVERSITY lecturer was swept to his death in a fastflowing burn only weeks after taking his retirement.