Terry Thompson, Standing Stone Putt, Highland Games, 1940. Photographer: Ronnie Jaques. Courtesy of National Archives e01097993
Source: Library and Archives Canada/Ronny Jaques fonds/e010979953
As identified during the 151st Highland Games, Terry’s brother Gib Thompson is standing to his direct right. Robby MacDonald, an Industrial Arts teacher, is second from the right. Different possibilities for the identity of the man in the plaid suit were raised.
http://www.antigonishhighlandgames.ca/the-scottish-heavy-events/
22lb Braemar Stone
Often called the Standing Stone putt, athletes must push a 22lb stone from the shoulder without moving their feet to advance their position. As in the other disciplines, they may not step outside of the trig area nor past the trig board following their attempt. Athletes are aiming for distances of 40 feet and beyond.
Darren Thompson identified this athlete as his grandfather, great grandfather of Steven and Rachel Thompson. Steven told us that he did a heritage project on his great grandfather as part of Social Studies class in Antigonish
Identifying the folks in the photo was a conversation piece at the Imagine Antigonish Banner exhibit at the Highland Games. Under the hot sun of the 151st Highland Games, there were several comments about the dress code for the 1940s games — suits and ties!!!!!
The Thompson family identified the athlete as Terry Thompson and the man in the suit right behind him as his brother Gib Thompson. The 5c to $1 donated a blow up posterboard of this photo, which was displayed on an easel at the front entrance. Gib Thompson’s grandson Greg Thompson told us that he has recently moved back home from Ontario and taken up residence on the family farm. The extended Thompson family and several others identified the man second from the right as Roddie MacDonald, who was an Industrial Arts teacher. There was debate over the man in the plaid jacket on the far right — was it Dr. Cecil MacLean or Frank McGibbon. Opinion leaned toward Frank McGibbon as too old for Cecil in 1940. Angus MacGillivray insisted it is Frank McGibbon, noting that he was the one looking after the grounds in the 1940s.
Peter McKenna wrote on Old Photos of Antigonish to say RoBBy “”Graphite” MacDonald. Best Teacher ever. Great guy.