Your full name:

The Revd Dr Stuart Thomson

Where did you grow up?

On the rural outskirts of Sydney, NSW. 

Education:

BA (Hons) in Classics and English from the University of Sydney, a graduate diploma in Theology from the University of Divinity, Melbourne, MSt and DPhil in Classics from Oxford (Corpus Christi College), PGCE from Buckingham, and I am just finishing my BA in Theology from Durham.

Your previous role and place of work:

I have been a (lay) school chaplain before at Christ’s Hospital in West Sussex, but most recently I have been teaching for the Classics Faculty at the University of Oxford. 

What are you most looking forward to about your new role and working at King’s Ely?

The variety of working with everyone from the children in the Nursery and the smallest pupils at Acremont, all the way up to the Sixth Formers and the staff. Also, having England’s most beautiful Cathedral as my school chapel.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I wanted to be an Architect - I loved drawing very symmetrical pictures of buildings!

Hobbies/interests outside of school:

My academic background is in Classics, so I still do some research and writing when I can find the time.  

Any pets?

No. I grew up with both cats and dogs, and once looked after a whole pack of beagles, but nothing at the moment. Having two small children, I have lots of cuddly toys and stuffed animals I have to look after. It is surprisingly difficult.

What is your favourite meal/food?

I love all sorts of food! Really authentic Szechuan Chinese food would be my top pick, although I have never been to mainland China.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

I would love to be able to fly; I think it would be a great feeling, but it would also be useful because I am permanently about two minutes behind where I should be. 

Who is your hero?

St Jerome. Extremely good Classicist, and he had a pet lion. Life goals.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Being able to make a Victoria sponge that my grandmother-in-law would have been proud of! (She was a woman of exceptionally high baking standards!)

What was the last book you read?

'Monsignor Quixote' by Graham Greene.

What song are you most likely to sing at a karaoke?

'Hit Me Baby One More Time' by Britney Spears. I once lost my voice singing this in a karoake bar in Tokyo on the first night of a choir tour!

What is your favourite film?

'Lawrence of Arabia' (directed by David Lean).

Do you have any phobias or fears?

Needles.

If you could share a meal with any four individuals, living or dead, who would they be?

Euripides (Classical Greek Tragedian); Sir Thomas Urquhart (17th century polymath and translator of Rabelais, who comes from the village we lived in in Scotland); John Kemp Bruce (my great-great grandfather, a Free Presbyterian minister who migrated from Scotland to Australia in the 1890s and died during the First World War); and Sir Ninian Comper (the church architect and designer of the first half of the 20th century).

Name three things that you would want with you if you we stranded on a desert island for a week:

The full back catalogue of Desert Island Discs to listen to, the Bible, and the complete works of Shakespeare.