JOHN THOMSON, the former deputy principal of Cardonald College, Glasgow, who pioneered further education courses in art and design, has died aged 82.

John graduated from Glasgow School of Art as a mature student, following his service in the Royal Air Force during the war. His specialist discipline was industrial design. After obtaining a teaching qualification and starting his career in Glasgow secondary schools, he quickly moved to the demands of further education, teaching design at the College of Building and Stow College.

When Central College of Commerce and Distribution opened, John was appointed senior lecturer for art. He was personally responsible for a wide range of developments with the British Display Society, including the first courses in exhibition design. He developed courses in commercial art to meet the needs of studios in west central Scotland. He was a founder member of the Association of Hairdressing Teachers for City and Guilds hairdressing courses 263 and 264, and, under John's guidance, students produced design work of such excellence that he was invited to exhibit this work at City and Guilds development courses throughout the UK.

When the new further education college was planned for Cardonald in the late 1960s, John was consulted on specialist arts courses, and was appointed as head of the first department of art and design established in Glasgow when Cardonald College opened. Within this large new department he devised a new course, the technician diploma in art and design, in consultation with Sancad (Scottish Association for National Certificates and Diplomas) - a forerunner of Scotec and Scotvec.

With the formation of Scotvec he was responsible for developments in the modular system and the specialist art/design diploma awards, which are now an integral part of the art and design qualifications provided under the auspices of the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

His interests led to developments within the Clothing Industries Training Board and with the Knitwear Industries Training Board for training apprentices and the provision of courses for full-time students in industrial machine knitting.

Courses were also developed for the carpet design industry, in embroidery, and for domestic machine knitting.

Perhaps the pinnacle of his career was his appointment as depute principal of Cardonald College. He discharged this post with typical enthusiasm, efficiency, and dedication.

He was also appointed a verifier for SCOTVEC, a position which he held well beyond his formal retirement, visiting centres throughout Scotland.

He took pleasure in so much - notably in his appreciation of art and design and his ability to pass that on. He was an enthusiastic gardener. In his younger days he was a distinguished cricket player for Clydesdale CC, and remained a keen cricket supporter for the rest of his life, visiting Lord's in May 2002 not long before the onset of his illness.

He enjoyed travel yet never failed to pay an annual visit to his favourite haunt, Peebles. He will be remembered as a kind, generous, and self-effacing family man, with a humorous outlook on life, and a dry, perceptive wit in conversation which never failed to amuse.

John is survived by his wife of 49 years, Elizabeth, whom he met in his student days, and by a son, two daughters, and four grandchildren.

John T Thomson DA FRSA; born 1920, died September

13, 2002.