Thomas Johnston (ii)

Johnston was handicapped at a young age, having one of his legs amputated. This, as Jim Taylor noted, did not prevent him from being involved in all manner of activities throughout his life.

He worked as a clerk in the Procurator Fiscal's office and then later took up a similar role with the National Insurance Committee, holding the position until 1937. He was the county assessor between 1937-1949 (sometimes referred to as 'County aggressor'). In 1935 he was appointed as Convenor of the Zetland County Council, a position which he held until 1936, and he is listed as being responsible for the Lerwick Landward Housing Scheme, which '[eliminated] the squalor of the then Fleet Street and Pig Street of the Skibbadock and Garthspool areas". As Town Clerk he carried out exhaustive research which assisted in the establishment of the Shetland Museum.