Edward Wilson (© Helen Harbord)
Born in Bradford, Edward (Ted) James Wilson spent his Yorkshire childhood roaming the local moors and valleys, which together with school science club trips to woollen mills, steelworks and a coal mine, all sparked his initial interest in geology.
Geological foundations
On graduating from the University of Liverpool in 1958 with BSc Honours in Geology, he initially considered emigrating to Canada to take up a job in copper mining. However, that was the year copper prices fell on the world market, so he stayed in the UK and did National Service whilst seeking employment. There he taught English, Maths and General Studies to other servicemen as part of the Royal Army Educational Corps. Once, when leading a night exercise involving map reading with no torches allowed, he inventively found a glow-worm to light the map.
Ted’s career began in 1961, working in British Rail’s Civil Engineering lab next to Paddington station. Here, he gained an in-depth knowledge of soil mechanics before moving on to ground investigations for projects such as new bridges, signal boxes and stations, as well as remedial works for embankment landslips and track bed failures.
When leading a night exercise involving map reading with no torches allowed, he inventively found a glow-worm to light the map.
Entrepreneurial spirit
In 1965 he accepted a job as Soil Mechanics Engineer with Geotechnical Engineering Ltd in Gloucester, eventually rising to and serving many years as Technical Director before setting up his own independent consultancy in 1979. Whilst work naturally concentrated on Gloucestershire and especially landslips within the Cotswold and Stroud valleys, trips were also made to Libya to undertake ground investigations for a water-storage tower, motorway flyover and a 22-storey tourist hotel.
Service to others
Ted attained several professional qualifications and memberships, becoming a member of the Institute of Chartered Engineers and Institute of Mining Engineers, a Fellow of the Geological Society of London and he served a term as chairman of the Midland Geotechnical Society. In 1984 he acted as Visiting Examiner on the master’s course in engineering geology at Imperial College London, and very much enjoyed being called to the civil court to act as an expert witness. He retired in 2001 after a long and fascinating career, and was very proud to pass the business to his son David, also an engineering geologist, who continues to run the Gloucester-based consultancy.
Throughout his career and retirement, Ted was an active church member involved in many stewardship roles and a Gloucester Civic Trust guide, plus he found enjoyment in watercolour painting, Roman and Saxon history, researching his own family history, winemaking and photography (including judging numerous local camera club competitions). Ted is survived by his wife Anne and children Julie, David and Helen, who are thankful for his long and eventful life.
By David Wilson
