Lionel, the third son of Henry Havelock and Sarah Jane Thompson, grew up at Victoria Valley, where he was enrolled at the school on his fifth birthday, August 24, 1909 (where he was incorrectly recorded as Lionel George Thompson). Eight years later, armed with his School Proficiency Certificate, he enrolled at Seddon Memorial Technical College in Auckland, studying science, and later engineering, there for three years, also indulging his passion for rugby, cricket, tennis and swimming.
He subsequently completed his City and Guilds of London Institute papers and gained his Public Service entry qualification.
In 1921 he enrolled at the Public Service College in Wellington, but, frustrated by the lack of courses in his chosen field of civil engineering, he pursued a clerical career, starting work with the Provident and Friendly Society (on an annual salary of 85 pounds ($170). He completed his first accountancy papers in 1927, with the highest marks in a field of some 1000 candidates around the country.
In 1925 Lionel and Kathy Beaver were engaged, marrying in Wellington in December 1927. Their first son, Brian, was born in 1931, followed by Clive in 1935 and Noel in 1938, when the family returned to Victoria Valley, where the prospects of finding work, or even a home, were not especially bright. (The Chevrolet car they brought north was later traded for a new Ford V8, costing 320 ($640), with an extra 7 ($14) for leather upholstery).
With a population of 800 Kaitaia did not generate a great deal of business, but Lionel rented an office in Commerce Street and began work as an accountant. He was later instrumental in founding the Kaitaia Businessmen's Association, of which he was the first secretary/treasurer.
Lionel was elected to the Kaitaia Town Board in 1939, and was later appointed commissioner. He also served during the war as captain of D Company, Far North Battalion of the Home Guard, with 160 men under his command.
Fourth and final son Garry was born in 1944, and two years later Lionel built new offices in Redan Road and became the agent for the National Airways Corporation (NAC, forerunner of Air New Zealand).
A keen bowler, he was instrumental in the formation of the Kaitaia Women's Bowling Club, which he served as patron; in 1954 he was a charter member of the Kaitaia Rotary Club and was installed as Grand Noble of the Northern Star Lodge.
He also served as a Justice of the Peace for 33 years, as chairman of the Mangonui Rugby Sub-Union, co-founded the Kaitaia Chamber of Commerce and the Kaitaia Municipal Brass Band (of which he was a life member), chairman of the Claud Switzer Trust Board, president of the Kaitaia branch of the Crippled Children's Society, chairman of the Kaitaia War Memorial Swimming Baths Committee and a vestryman and treasurer at St Saviour's Anglican Church.
Life had its ups and downs though, never more so perhaps than in 1958, when Her Majesty the Queen Mother visited Kaitaia. Lionel, as mayor, was obviously front and centre, but every moment of her visit was strictly choreographed, and totally beyond the local mayor's control.
His prominence, however, gave rise to what he recorded as a number of personal attacks in the media, including a Northland Age headline, 'Mayor hogs limelight.'
It is unlikely that spoiled more than momentarily a very proud day for Lionel Gilbert Thompson, made even more special when he presented his mother to the royal visitor, at her request.
