Instagram story viewer> @j.thomson> Posts

James Thomson

@j.thomson

790

followers

933

following

CEO @thereallygreatteachercompany
HeadCoach @cliftonsurflifesaving

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

Happy 21st Boeta!

Thank you for being the kindest and most amazing son, brother and friend to us all.

Forever proud of you and of the man that you have become. by @j.thomson

71

4

8 months ago

Today my daughter qualified as a lifeguard.

Maybe this was inevitable, knowing that she grew up in a family of lifeguards and on the beach.

But becoming a lifeguard ultimately has to be a personal choice as it requires focus and sacrifice, it is not something to be taken lightly.

She has dreamt of becoming a lifeguard for a long time (see the slide of her school oral). …from doing flags on the club house floor at the age of 2, to being a mascot for the nipper teams, when still too young to take part, to having an amazing time through her nipper years.

Well done Bailey, we are very proud of you and your choice to serve others.

Thank you to everyone who has guided her on this journey so far… by @j.thomson

183

37

a year ago

Happy 14th birthday to my amazing daughter and bestie! Never change, you are perfect in every way and bring so much joy and happiness to all. by @j.thomson

121

7

a year ago

Boom 💥 and we are in high school! Have a blast @bail.eyythomson - get stuck in and enjoy every moment! by @j.thomson

156

11

2 years ago

“Saving Lives by Inspiring Others”

This is the purpose of the SA Lifesaving team.

We aim to inspire more people to become lifeguards, thereby leading to more drownings being prevented on the African continent.

The 2024 SA World Champs team fully delivered on this purpose over the past week. We gave of our absolute best in and out of the arenas during @2024lwc and I am sure that we made our country proud.

A lot more to come from these incredible young leaders in the future, they are ready to serve and ready to take on the challenge again at World Champs 2026!

Well done to each and every athlete and management team member. A huge thank you to all of our families, supporters, @lifesavingsouthafrica, sponsors, media, expert workshop presenters, all SA lifesaving clubs and their coaching teams, training camp contributors, the event organisers, officials and our competitors.

A big congratulations to @auslifesaving for their deserved win.

#lifesavingsport
#lifesavingsouthafrica
#lwc2024 taken in Gold Coast, Queenslands, Australia by @j.thomson

56

1

2 years ago

Happy 13th Birthday to the best daughter a Dad could ask for! Your kindness, sense of humour and inquisitiveness about the World around you is a joy to be around!

Also love that you chose to watch the baby Boks play for your birthday #proudlysouthafrican taken in Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch by @j.thomson

71

8

2 years ago

INSPIRED!
A simple purpose (slide 2), but one that means so much to our country and our team and one that they delivered upon so willingly and passionately!

A lot of work and growth remains to be done, but we are ready and willing to take it on.

GRATEFUL!
For all those that made this tour and the incredible results possible - fundraisers, parents, supporters, SA’s various club coaches and committees, previous SA coaches and managers, selectors, administrators, LSA, competitors, the Protea team members and a selfless and fully committed management and coaching team.

PROUD!
Of our results, our effort and our ambassadorship on and off the beach.

Being a Protea means more - now and forever.

#isrc2023
#lifesavingsport
#lifesavingsouthafrica taken in South Padre Island, Texas by @j.thomson

94

10

3 years ago

Phuket 11’s 2023 - Champions!

Another fantastic tour with the @hamilton_sprfc Dynamiters brotherhood. An incredible group of diverse, kind and fun loving guys!

Pictured here alongside @ob1jason and I is one of my inspirations. Dennis Nick is 88 years old and still comes on these tours. He stopped playing 3 years ago, but that has not stopped him from being an active tour participant, benefactor to multiple clubs, schools, charities and individuals and a mate to all.

What makes Dennis extra special though is his life’s mantra - “Spread Joy” and how he spends every waking second looking for ways to help other people and make them happy!

I salute you Den and if the rest of us can follow in your footsteps and display your love and compassion then this World would be an even more incredible place!

Thank you for your example. taken in Phuket, Thailand by @j.thomson

124

8

3 years ago

SA Champs 2023 (caution long post to follow 😳)

For the record @cliftonsurflifesaving won the following this year at nationals:
- Junior and Senior Surf Combined
- Junior and Senior Stillwater Combined
- Overall Junior and Senior Surf and Stillwater Aggregate

The last two titles have never been won by us before and we are extremely proud of our achievement.

But this is not what we are most proud of…

At Clifton we believe that we have an amazing opportunity & privilege to grow and develop each other to be better human beings in order to serve our communities and South Africa.

We believe that we have a responsibility to be positive role models in an imperfect world and we achieve this through servant leadership. We believe that everyone of us is a leader who can grow and develop others.

Lifeguards are Leaders.

Our goal for the club is very simple - to develop better people and better lifeguards.

We wanted to demonstrate this at SA’s by being “Greatfull” people who enjoy it the most!

Each person who stepped on the line or start blocks this weekend became a better lifeguard as they gained more experience and sharpened theirs skills.

They also all became better people and leaders and they honoured the lifesaving movement and their club by actively seeking out ways to show massive sportsmanship and gratitude towards their competitors, the officials, supporters, organisers and the whole @lifesavingsouthafrica community. On top of this we had a crazy amount of fun along the way!

If we have inspired one other person to become a lifeguard or ensured that our own lifeguards react better in rescue situations in surf or stillwater, then we achieved our goal for Nationals 2023.

To win titles as a result of this is a wonderful validation of this focus and we are genuinely thankful for it.

We won’t change this focus going into next season though, because titles and medals are great, but nowhere near as important as saving lives and becoming better people.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to achieving these goals. taken in Kings Beach, Port Elizabeth by @j.thomson

114

21

4 years ago

Happy 11th Birthday Bailey - thank you for you love, kindness and omgee for everyone. You are amazing x taken in Glen Beach by @j.thomson

74

9

4 years ago

Today I went to a place, which I deeply felt a calling to visit since I was a child (thanks Mom) - to pay homage and offer my small amount of respect, empathy and love to. I will do what ever I can to make sure that this never happens again. I promise that my family and I will never forget… taken in Auschwitz - Birkenau death camp by @j.thomson

100

7

4 years ago

Seeing the growth and development of athletes from nippers into elite national team members is special.

Seeing their development into being INCREDIBLE people and leaders is even more special.

You guys have made your team mates, squad mates, parents and the Clifton family very proud.

Well done Samuel, Savannah, Holly and Naor. by @j.thomson

67

3

4 years ago