LSA 1875; MRCS Eng 1877; MD Queen's University Ireland 1877; BSc Manch 1882.
Tomkins, originally from Hertfordshire, gained his medical education at the Manchester Royal School of Medicine and at MRI, where he was physicians assistant and held junior appointments. In 1878 Tomkins was appointed resident medical officer to Monsall Fever Hospital and then became medical superintendent. He was a member of Manchester Medical Society. Tomkins later went to Leicester as Medical Officer of Health.