Timms was born in Australia, at Mount Hesse Station west of Geelong where his father owned a sheep farm.
[7] Timms was brought into the squad as a temporary replacement for JJ Gowans at centre in Scotland's opening game of the 1896 Home Nations Championship, played away to Wales at the Cardiff Arms Park.
Before Timms would win his second Scotland cap, he was selected to represent Matthew Mullineux's British Isles team on the 1899 tour of Australia.
Timms scored two tries in the opening match of the campaign, against Central Southern,[8] but missed the next four games, including the First Test against Australia.
Timms scored a try in the loss to Ireland, but was given the honour, in his final international game, of captaining Scotland in the encounter against England.