Alec Dickson

Alexander Graeme Dickson (23 May 1914 – 23 September 1994) founded Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) in 1958. VSO was created to send volunteers to developing countries, and Dickson's idea came from his own "Christian but non-denominational faith".[1] The first volunteers went to Sarawak, Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia.

In 1951, Dickson married writer, artist and campaigner Mora Dickson (née Robertson) (20 April 1918 – 17 December 2001), author of A Chance To Serve (1976) recounting the beginnings of VSO.[2]

On leaving VSO in 1962, the Dicksons formed Community Service Volunteers, which focused on UK-based volunteer projects.

Alec Dickson became a MBE in 1945 and a CBE in 1967. A plaque marking the London house where he died was erected by the Bedford Park Society.[3]

References
  1. Andrew Thompson (24 November 2016). Britain's Experience of Empire in the Twentieth Century. OUP Oxford. pp. 107–. ISBN 978-0-19-251357-1.
  2. Green, David (1 January 2002). "Obituary: Mora Dickson". the Guardian. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  3. "Plaque: Alec Dickson". London Remembers. Retrieved 12 April 2017.


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