On his return, Thomson, was awarded a Territorial Decoration and appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire.
[1] From 1966 to 1972 he served as the Lord Provost of Perth, a Deputy Lieutenant and appointed an honorary sheriff.
[1] Thomson was also a member of the court at the University of Dundee from 1975 to 1979 and chairman of the Scottish Licence Trade between 1981 and 1982.
[4][5] Notable recipients of the award include three-time world champion golfer Jessie Valentine in 1999 and Joan Knight, artistic director at Perth Theatre, in 1982.
[5][6] The Award was administered by a trust established at Thomson's request to mark his retiral as Lord Provost.