Penny Thomson
Encyclopedia
Penny Thomson was a producer for Britain's Channel Four and former EIFF director.
She attended St. Leonard's School for Girls
at St Andrews
. She became a production assistant, learning her craft with Murray Grigor
and Patrick Higson. During this time she met musician and sculptor, Allan Ross whom she married on 4 July 1978.
Her career in film progressed through one of the earliest films made for Channel Four, The Work They Say Is Mine, to a cameo appearance in Gregory's Girl
. During this time, Thomson and Ross moved to a farmhouse at Avonbridge
, setting up Avonbridge Film Productions and producing commercials on which future directors and producers cut their teeth. At the Scottish Film Production Fund, which she ran for two years, she secured funding for Margaret Tait
's film, Blue Black Permanent. In 1991, Thomson was appointed director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF). Thomson took over the Festival and during her three years at the helm brought stability back to the organisation.
In the 1990s, Thomson and Ross moved to York Road in Edinburgh. With the move came a new working partnership. Together they devised, pitched for and won many commissions for installations, theatre pieces and award statuettes. For 12 years they provided the Viking longship, burnt annually on Calton Hill in culmination of the Torchlight Procession which heralds in Edinburgh's four day Hogmanay
celebration.
In later years, she worked on script development and consultancy. She was a tireless worker for BAFTA Scotland
, serving on its committee for many years. She supported the Edinburgh Film Focus from its inception and played a key role in advisory panels. The most recent meeting, she chaired from a wheelchair with indomitable style. She was chair of the Boilerhouse Theatre Company, a contributor to the List magazine and to BBC Scotland and was a board member and UK representative on the European producers' programme, EAVE.
Terminally ill with breast cancer
Penny Thomson and Allan Ross celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary in St Columba's Hospice, Edinburgh, with champagne and chocolate cake. She died 5 days later, aged 56.
She attended St. Leonard's School for Girls
St Leonards School
St Leonards School, formerly St Leonards School for Girls, is an independent school, founded by the University of St Andrews in the nineteenth century....
at St Andrews
St Andrews
St Andrews is a university town and former royal burgh on the east coast of Fife in Scotland. The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle.St Andrews has a population of 16,680, making this the fifth largest settlement in Fife....
. She became a production assistant, learning her craft with Murray Grigor
Murray Grigor
Murray Grigor is a Scottish film maker, writer and exhibition curator. He has made over 50 films with a focus on arts and architecture documentaries.-Early life:...
and Patrick Higson. During this time she met musician and sculptor, Allan Ross whom she married on 4 July 1978.
Her career in film progressed through one of the earliest films made for Channel Four, The Work They Say Is Mine, to a cameo appearance in Gregory's Girl
Gregory's Girl
Gregory's Girl is a 1981 Scottish coming-of-age romantic comedy film written and directed by Bill Forsyth.The film is set in and around a state secondary school in the Abronhill district of Cumbernauld. It features Gordon John Sinclair, Dee Hepburn, and Clare Grogan, among others...
. During this time, Thomson and Ross moved to a farmhouse at Avonbridge
Avonbridge
Avonbridge is a small village which lies within the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The village is south-southeast of the town of Falkirk. Avonbridge sits just inside the council boundary line between Falkirk and West Lothian councils....
, setting up Avonbridge Film Productions and producing commercials on which future directors and producers cut their teeth. At the Scottish Film Production Fund, which she ran for two years, she secured funding for Margaret Tait
Margaret Tait
Margaret Caroline Tait was a Scottish film maker and poet.-Life:Tait was born and raised in Kirkwall on Orkney, an island off the coast of Scotland.Tait died in Kirkwall in 1999.-Training and career:...
's film, Blue Black Permanent. In 1991, Thomson was appointed director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF). Thomson took over the Festival and during her three years at the helm brought stability back to the organisation.
In the 1990s, Thomson and Ross moved to York Road in Edinburgh. With the move came a new working partnership. Together they devised, pitched for and won many commissions for installations, theatre pieces and award statuettes. For 12 years they provided the Viking longship, burnt annually on Calton Hill in culmination of the Torchlight Procession which heralds in Edinburgh's four day Hogmanay
Hogmanay
Hogmanay is the Scots word for the last day of the year and is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year in the Scottish manner...
celebration.
In later years, she worked on script development and consultancy. She was a tireless worker for BAFTA Scotland
BAFTA Scotland
BAFTA in Scotland is the Scottish branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Formed in 1997, the branch holds an annual awards ceremony, the British Academy Scotland Awards , to recognise achievement by performers and production staff in Scottish film, television and video games...
, serving on its committee for many years. She supported the Edinburgh Film Focus from its inception and played a key role in advisory panels. The most recent meeting, she chaired from a wheelchair with indomitable style. She was chair of the Boilerhouse Theatre Company, a contributor to the List magazine and to BBC Scotland and was a board member and UK representative on the European producers' programme, EAVE.
Terminally ill with breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
Penny Thomson and Allan Ross celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary in St Columba's Hospice, Edinburgh, with champagne and chocolate cake. She died 5 days later, aged 56.
External links
- http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/contactus/whoswho/advisors/drama.aspx
- http://news.scotsman.com/obituaries.cfm?id=1090382007