My name is Doug Thomson and I am the Chair of the School Governing body. When I first visited the school in about 1995,I was so excited by the happy, enthusiastic   attitude of everyone here( staff and pupils) that I felt that I wanted to be part of it and I was lucky enough to be accepted and appointed as a governor. I am delighted to say that the positive atmosphere I experienced then is still as strong if not stronger now.

I was born in Edinburgh but my family moved to Stockton when I was very young and I lived there until I went to Kings College, Newcastle. I studied for a degree in Chemistry and then a Ph.D in Radiation Chemistry by which time I was married and Olwen and I then spent 3 great years in the U.S. living just outside Boston.

In 1966 we returned to Teesside where I joined I.C.I. The next 15 years were spent working as a Development chemist but I then changed direction and spent the next 15 years as a Personnel Officer working on virtually every area of the Wilton Site, unfortunately mostly when they were being sold or closed down.

I am married to Olwen and we have 2 sons and 5 granddaughters. My hobbies are mainly around sport, playing Golf and having a season ticket at MFC, with Olwen, since the 1970`s.We have also been lucky enough to travel a lot since I retired from full time work and have managed to get around the world twice. I have also just retired after 19 years as a volunteer adviser at Citizens Advice Bureau and Olwen and I are both Trustees of a group in Middlesbrough supporting adults with learning disabilities.