Stunned by sudden death of devoted Hillhouse family man Hugh, 43

Jul 24 2008 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

A HILLHOUSE woman was this week mourning the death of her husband who died suddenly aged 43.

Hugh Thomas collapsed at his Clarkwell Road home on July 4 and died in Hairmyres Hospital the following day.

Doctors said the cause of death had been a blood clot on his brain stem.

His grieving wife Margaret this week described him as a kind-hearted man who doted on his two grandchildren Scott, aged four, and three-year-old Amee.

Mr Thomas was known as ‘junior’ to distinguish him from his father who was also called Hugh.

“He was placid and generous and lived for his grandchildren,” said Margaret.

“He enjoyed their company and always wanted to make them happy.

“Junior was well-known around Hillhouse and well liked. Nobody had a bad word to say about him.

“He was a real gentlemen. He’s going to be greatly missed by me, the rest of his family and his friends.”

Hugh also leaves daughter Laura (24), son Steven (22), and six bothers and two sisters.

After leaving Earnock High School, he had a number of labouring jobs which included work with Alpine, the soft drinks firm, and the council.

His interests included playing darts in Lanarkshire leagues which included Carrigan’s in Eddlewood, the Wishaw League and Hamilton’s Greenfield Club. He was also an enthusiastic Rangers supporter.

“Junior had played darts since leaving school and had hundreds of trophies. It was a big hobby for him,” said Margaret.

Weeks before Hugh died he had gone on a family holiday to Palma Nova, Majorca, of which Margaret has fond memories. “He had really been looking forward to the holiday and spending time with Scott and Amee,” she said.

“In the run up to the holiday he had been complaining of having a sore head. However, he was fine while we were away.

“Not long after we returned from holiday the headaches returned. An appointment was made with the doctor, but the only date available was two weeks later.

“On the morning he was due to go to the doctor he was found lying on the kitchen floor.

“He was taken to hospital in a coma and passed away the next day.

“The blood clot was something that couldn’t have been foreseen.”

Margaret added: “It was a ticking time bomb, really.”