Russell Thomson
Russell Thomson was born in 1961 in Largs on the west coast of Scotland and educated at Loretto School in Musselburgh near Edinburgh.
Joined the Merchant Navy in 1978 and spent 10 years engaged in world wide trading on cargo vessels in the British and then South African Merchant Navy.
Came ashore in 1988 to become Ferry Manager for Caledonian MacBrayne on the Kyle - Kyeakin ferry service which carried 500,00 vehicles and several million passengers a year to and from the Isle of Skye as well as serving as a stepping stone to the Outer Isles.
Appointed manager of the Skye Bridge in 1995 (which didn't make me the most popular man in the area!) and was responsible for the route from Opening in 1996 until early 2004 which was about 8 months before the bridge became toll free.
Appointed Customer Service Manager for the Highland Canals (Caledonian & Crinan) in May 2004 and Waterway Manager - Highlands in 2006.
