Wilson , Ronald Haig , 1917-2005 , educationalist

Ronald (Ronnie) Haig Wilson (1917-2005) was a prominent educationalist who devoted his life to the advancement of international adult education in UK and Europe.

Born 1917; studied German and French at St Andrew's University, 1935-1938; part of an exchange scholarship to Germany from 1938-1939, where he had first-hand experience of the Third Reich regime and Nazi propaganda. Joined the army after completing his MA , 1940, Royal Artillery; volunteered for the intelligence corps and was based at Fort William, where he was responsible for military security and counter intelligence. In the last months of the War he was stationed in Germany; after the war he was in a unit which gathered intelligence necessary for the aims of the occupation to be carried out and was seconded to carry out work for Education Control; discharged, 1946; worked for the 'Education Branch of the Internal Affairs and Communication Division, Control Commission for Germany (British Element)'; posted to Rhineland/Westphalia, 1947; moved to the adult education section; worked for the Education Branch (Control Commission for Germany), later the Cultural Department of the British High Commission, 1947-1958, moving to Berlin in 1950, and Bonn in 1956; part of the Cultural Relations Group, Berlin; helped found the Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband (DVV), a German adult education association, 1953. In 1957 the British Government closed the Education branch and Wilson returned to the UK. Senior Adult Tutor at Ivanhoe Community College in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire. 1958-1962; served on Leicestershire County Council (1958-1962); Educational Organiser (Further Education) for Huddersfield, 1962-1964; served on the Huddersfield Education Authority (1962-1964); head of Manchester's College of Adult Education, 1964-1980; retired, 1980; President of the Educational Centres Association, 1994-1996; died 2005.