THOMSON, John Bell

With great regret The Webster Family anounces the death of John Bell Thomson, journalist, and writer.

Son of John and Flora Bell Thomson (deceased), beloved brother of Pat Rainey, Jocelyn Chisholm (deceased), and Margaret Thomson, much loved father of Meera Webster, Priya Chiu, Kiran Thwaites, and Viraj Thomson, and cherished Bapuji (grandfather) of Bayden and Xander Chiu, Cameron and William Thomson, and Nicole and Leo Thwaites, adored father-in-law of Glen Webster and 'new sister' Helena Webster,

John was respected throughout the Antarctic writing and research community and by the many journalists with whom he worked.

John leaves a legacy of books including the world's first biography of the captain of Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship the Endurance "Shackleton's Captain", "Warrior Nation", "Climbing The Pole", "Elephant Island and Beyond" and "Lost" as well as his own autobiography "Words Of Passage".

At 73, New Zealand zoologist and Antarctic researcher Dr Peter Carey invited him to present a lecture series for tourists during the six-week summer cruise period of 2003-04. He made three journeys south to the peninsular from Chile but described the effort as too much, losing almost ten kilos in rapid time. Further offers were declined and John became aware of health issues that would eventually prove fatal.

Approaching 90 and ailing, John and Bala began their final adventure moving to Australia in 2021 before Covid closed all borders.

They came to Kurrajong, New South Wales to join daughter Meera, husband Glen Webster and Glen’s mother Helena Webster.

Ill health in 2022 prevented further writing but he delighted in being “back in Sydney”. He loved the house “Bellebird Glen”, adored the birdlife on the balcony built for he and Bala while they awaited the disability apartment being constructed for them on the side of the house and observing constructions as they arose.

He was proud to be living in “a commune of adults” and with stoic grace, he was cared for at home as much as possible but returned to St John of God Hospital for a few days. After a “lovely chat with the night nurse”, he passed away in sleep in the early hours of June 12. Brought home, John was accorded all Hindu rites as h wished, then cremated on June 15.

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, June 23 at Castlebrook Memorial Chapel from 9am.

In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to Parkinson's NSW to assist in the provision of specialist Parkinson's nurses.