Picture courtesy of Cheltenham Borough Council and the Cheltenham Trust/The Wilson Family Collection.
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He went about doing good: the life of Dr Edward Thomas Wilson of Cheltenham
The Talk
Cheltenham has been enriched by the Wilson family, a fact recognised by the renaming of its museum and art gallery in 2013, yet the family member who did most for the town is hardly known. Overshadowed both by his son, the Antarctic explorer who perished with Captain Scott at the South Pole, and his brother, renowned for his heroic attempt to rescue General Gordon at Khartoum, his story is intriguingly complex. Drawing on his recently published biography of the man fondly referred to as ETW, local author David Elder will tell the story of the man who instigated modern medical practices, such as isolation fever hospitals, district nursing and clean drinking water as well as promote Science and Art. In the 150th anniversary of the birth of Edward Wilson, the Antarctic explorer, it is fitting that the life of “the other” Dr Edward Wilson is also celebrated.
The Speaker
David Elder worked for several Departments across the Civil Service. Now retired, he focuses much of his time on creative writing, local history and photography. Having previously co-authored a biography of Dr Edward Adrian Wilson, the Cheltenham-born Antarctic explorer, he has recently produced a biography of Dr Edward Thomas Wilson, father of the explorer. He has so far written 12 local history books, mainly on Cheltenham, but also covering Tewkesbury, Gloucester, Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds. For further details please visit his web site https://davidelder.net/.
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