The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Ex-MP was an ‘honest and honourable’ family man
The family of Gordon Wilson paid tribute to the “honest and honourable” politician yesterday.
Mr Wilson, who had been suffering from pulmonary fibrosis and prostate cancer, died in the early hours of yesterday morning at the age of 79.
His wife Edith and daughters Katie Wilson and Margaret Marshall described Mr Wilson as a “kind, honest and honourable man” who retained the affection and respect of many across Dundee, despite last holding public office 30 years ago.
Mrs Wilson said: “It was a great shock to get the phone call at half past five this morning.
“His body just couldn’t take it any more but he fought it all the way.”
Born in Rutherglen, Mr Wilson studied law at Edinburgh University and was programme director of pirate political radio station Radio Free Scotland.
It was while working there that he met Edith, also a campaigner for Scottish independence. Mr Wilson worked as a solicitor in Paisley and, together with SNP research officer Donald Bain, devised the It’s Our Oil campaign, that led to an upswing in the SNP’s fortunes in the 1970s.
Edith said her husband’s decision to run in Dundee East had been a surprise.
“He was party secretary but stayed at home babysitting and doing the paperwork while I was out campaigning,” she said.
“But in 1974 he said he would run in Dundee East.
“He and Donald really did their homework on North Sea oil and that’s what made him stand.”
The family said he retained his sense of humour and interest in politics until his death and had been planning a new article on Brexit and independence.
“He had a very acute political brain. He saw things that weren’t apparent to many other people,” said Mrs Wilson.
He is survived by Edith, his two daughters and five grandchildren.