Mayor 1952
Thomas Monckton was born at Manilla and moved to Armidale. After suffering for some time from illness, he died on Saturday 1 March 1969, aged 68 years.
The business of Monckton and Son was dissolved in January 1924 with James Henry to carry on the business as a car proprietor and Thomas to commence business as storekeeper. In 1926 he purchased the Olympic Swimming Pool and conducted this business until he sold it to the Armidale City Council in 1956. He also devoted a great deal of his life to the development of Albion Park in the vicinity of the pool. He was well known for his community service and dedication to the development of Armidale's swimmers.
He was awarded the Royal Life Saving Society's highest award, the Diploma in 1933. He was presented with a Long Service Medal of the Society in October 1951 and the Monckton Shield, a swimming trophy was conducted for many years in his honour. In June 1968 he was presented with a further award by the Society which entitled him to use the Society's letters R.L.S.S. after his name- a rare honour at the time. He had also been honoured by the London Head Office in other ways and he was especially commended for training 12 000 students overal twenty six year period.
He left a wife, Mrs Millie Monckton and three sons, John (Sydney), Don (Toowoomba) and Bruce (Toowoomba). Following a St. Peter's Cathedral, he was buried in the Church of England section, Armidale cemetery.