The Reverend Peter Thomson AM 73, is one of Australia's most distinguished Christian Ministers having served as Headmaster at Timbertop, Master at St Marks Adelaide University College, a Theology Professor at the University of Adelaide, and friend and chaplain to former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair.
Peter Thomson was at Oxford engaging in post graduate studies for two years in his mid 30s when Tony Blair was an undergraduate. A number of the brightest at Oxford, including Tony Blair, established a philosophy / theology group with Peter as friend and sounding-board for discussions on political and social matters.
'Social partnership with the corporate world' was one of these discussion points. When Tony Blair became Prime Minister in 1997, Peter Thomson and his wife Helen relocated to Britain to help bring this 'idea' to fruition. It grew exponentially in the Blair years.
The 'social entrepreneur' was Peter Thomson's calling card. In his interview on the ABC's Lateline program in 2001, he explained how he was instrumental in bringing it to Australia.
Reverend Peter Thomson was also involved in other Christian ministries and it is in this area that Mark Tronson has been so very honoured and blessed. In the late 1980s the Australian Institute of Sport 'Cricket Unit' was being established in Adelaide and the young cricketers were housed at St Marks College in that first eighteen month period. Peter Thomson was Master.
"I contacted Peter Thomson explaining that the Sports and Leisure Ministry was a ministry in association with Heads of Churches, and that it placed chaplains in Australia's professional sports. I sought his good-will to take on these AIS Cricketers," M V Tronson explained.
This is where one of those astonishing and bewildering Christian relationships was initiated that has lasted over twenty years.
"It was delightful the way we became firm friends. This was consolidated in Seoul, Korea, when I invited Peter, along with a number of sports chaplains, to attend the third World Congress on Sports Mission coinciding with the Seoul Olympics in 1988," M V Tronson detailed. "Peter and I walked and talked for hours upon end."
On the one hand, we have the Reverend Peter Thomson, a distinguished High Anglican gentleman with a CV as long as your arm. His opinions were sought by the greatest in the land, as he was a noted liberal theologian who spoke in tones of great authority as befitted his pedigree (the landed gentry with holdings in the Victorian high country near Mansfield). His salary as Master of St Marks was no meagre missionary package.
On the other hand, we have Mark Tronson, an evangelical Baptist minister, who was a former NSW train driver who stutters and speaks as if he's still a train driver. He believes every word the Bible says, literally. He came to higher education as a mature aged student, and amazingly gained honours at theological college, won two theological prizes, and was named the best communicator of his year. He later earned two doctorates. He has always struggled financially, and lives by faith financial support through the gifts of others.
Yet, when these two came together the Lord opened their hearts and they became the greatest of friends; a friendship which is retained to this day. Mark Tronson says that Peter Thomson became the most remarkable mentor which bought such blessing into his life, as well as into the life of his family and his ministry.
At M V Tronson's request the Reverend Peter Thomson became Chairman of the sports ministry (1991-98), giving those years stability with his measured entrepreneurial spirit. Mark Tronson was in communication with Peter Thomson 'very regularly'.
Within 12 months of Peter and Helen Thomson relocating to England to serve Tony Blair, Mark Tronson fell ill with stress after 18 years of pioneering the Sports and Leisure Ministry. Heads of Churches released Mark and Delma Tronson in 2000 to establish Well-Being Australia, whose major focus was athlete respite.
Upon Reverend Peter Thomson's return to Australia, Mark and Peter reconnected. Peter assisted Mark with wisdom and insight in his new ministry. Mark and Delma Tronson had replicated the Basil Sellers Moruya respite facility in the Tweed in 2006 (Basil Sellers Tweed), and Reverend Peter Thomson paid a four day promotional visit in June the following year.
"Peter Thomson has offered his wisdom all these years, the cricket ministry all the way to respite. My heart leaps for joy when I'm with Peter. We've met for coffee in Melbourne in recent years and he has communicated that he's getting frail," M V Tronson noted sadly.
Mark Tronson says there have been a small number of very significant people in his life and ministry, and one of these very special people has been his beloved mentor, the Reverend Peter Thomson.