Bruce Thomson was born in India of Scottish parents and came home to live with his grandfather Baillie Booth of Downiehills, Peterhead. The latter was a friend of Scot Skinner who wrote a tune for him.

Bruce was educated at Aberdeen Grammer School, Glenalmond (where he learnt the pipes), Keble College Oxford and The Royal London Hospital. He won blues for rugby and boxing at Oxford and played rugby for Scotland in 1953.

His composing was encouraged by the late great Donald McLeod, and latterly by Seumas MacNeill, Pipe Major Brian McRae and the members of The Royal Scottish Pipers Society, of which Bruce is a member.

The Pass of Brander is the result of many holidays spent in Argyll with Colonel Jimmie Young at Portsonachan and Tommy Macdonald at Barguillean.

The east of Scotland influence came from many happy years with his parents in Aboyne.

He has retired to Crieff in Perthshire after being in practice as a GP in Horsham, Sussex.

He is also a member of The College of Piping Glasgow.