Dick Wilson

My Father was born in Glasgow and educated in Scotland at Glenalmond School. He won an English Speaking Union scholarship to study in the United States for 2 years before entering the family business, Wilsons of Scotland, predominantly a meat producing business. He headed the division which later developed the first canned pet food, Kennomeat and later Kattomeat. These went on to be an enormous success capturing a large share of the pet food market in the UK, the company was eventually sold to Spillers in 1964. It was around this time that my Father became interested in the world of complementary medicine and healing with a strong emphasis on homeopathy.

His interest in complementary medicine and healing came primarily from his close relationship with his Uncle, Andrew Wilson, who lived in Glasgow and was very close to the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital.

Both my Father and my Great Uncle, Andrew Wilson, became trustees of The Scottish Homeopathic Research and Education Trust and were involved in a number of initiatives and fund raising. It was through their involvement in The Scottish Homeopathic Trust that they became aware of the sale of Nelsons in the early 1970s following the tragic death of Dudley Everett in the Staines aircrash of 1974. They were approached by members of the homeopathic community who knew of their commercial background and access to funds, encouraging them to purchase Nelsons. In 1974 they bought the business, at that time very small scale, employing just six people based at the still existing premises of 73 Duke Street, just off Oxford Street in central London.

During the 1970s and 1980s the business grew steadily and my Father became increasingly involved in the world of homeopathy, setting up The Homeopathic Development Foundation, a charitable organisation for the promotion of homeopathy. This closed down in the late 1980s and its good will was transferred to The British Homeopathic Association. He continued to be a trustee of the Homeopathic Trust.

My Father was also interested in the Bach Flower Remedies, he had known Norah Weeks for many years and later became acquainted with John Ramsell. In the late 1980s John Ramsell approached Nelsons to ask for assistance with the business side of the Bach Flower Remedies, and in the early 1990s Nelsons acquired a licence to distribute, eventually purchasing outright the Bach Flower Remedies business.

My Father retired as a trustee of The Homeopathic Trust in the late 1990s, and as Chairman of Nelsons in July 2000.

Throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s and on into the early 21st Century my Father worked tirelessly for homeopathy both in the commercial arena and on the charitable side. His passion and belief in this system of medicine never subsided right until his death. He spent the last 40 years of his life deeply committed to homeopathy, its furtherance and wider availability. He built up many long and trusted friendships throughout that time. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.