Charles Martin Wilson (18 August 1935 – 31 August 2022) was a Scottish journalist and newspaper executive.

Early life and education

Charles Martin Wilson was born in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

on 18 August 1935, and educated at Eastbank Academy in the east end of the city.

Career

Having begun his career as a reporter for the ''

News Chronicle The ''News Chronicle'' was a British daily newspaper. Formed by the merger of '' The Daily News'' and the ''Daily Chronicle'' in 1930, it ceased publication on 17 October 1960,''Liberal Democrat News'' 15 October 2010, accessed 15 October 2010 be ...

'' and the '' Daily Mail'', Wilson subsequently edited the '' Glasgow Evening Times'', ''

The Glasgow Herald ''The Herald'' is a Scottish broadsheet newspaper founded in 1783. ''The Herald'' is the longest running national newspaper in the world and is the eighth oldest daily paper in the world. The title was simplified from ''The Glasgow Herald'' in ...

'' and ''The Scottish Sunday Standard'' from 1976 to 1982, before moving to London to work as deputy editor (1982–1985) and editor (1985–1990) of ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper '' The Sunday Times'' (f ...

''. From 1992 to 1998 he was managing director of Mirror Group plc (having been editorial director of the Group from 1991 to 1992). He was concurrently managing director and editor-in-chief of '' The Sporting Life'' (1990–1998), and also edited ''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publish ...

'' for a brief spell (1995–1996). Once a Royal Marines boxing champion, he was feared but respected by many of those who worked for him, among them

Matthew Parris Matthew Francis Parris (born 7 August 1949) is a British political writer and broadcaster, formerly a Conservative Member of Parliament. He was born in South Africa to British parents. Early life and family Parris is the eldest of six childre ...

, who cites him as an inspiration.

Other activities

Wilson was appointed new Chairman of the Judges at British Press Awards 2006, as part of an effort to promote transparency and fairness in the judging process. Wilson was the senior non-executive director of

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is a 430-bed teaching hospital located in Chelsea, London. Although the hospital has been at its present site since only 1993, the hospital has a rich history in that it serves as the new site for the Westminst ...

NHS Foundation Trust, where he made significant steps in assuring corporate governance.

Personal life and death

Wilson was married to the broadcaster and journalist

Anne Robinson Anne Josephine Robinson (born 26 September 1944) is an English television presenter and journalist. She was the host of BBC game show '' The Weakest Link'' (2000–2017). She presented the Channel 4 game show ''Countdown'' from June 2021 to Jul ...

and they had a daughter, Emma. He was later married to the journalist Sally O'Sullivan with whom he had a son, Luke, and a daughter, Lily. They divorced in 2001, and later that year, he married amateur jockey Hon Rachel Pitkeathley, daughter of life peer Baroness Pitkeathley. Wilson died from blood cancer at The London Clinic on 31 August 2022, at the age of 87.

References

1935 births 2022 deaths 20th-century British journalists 20th-century Royal Marines personnel 20th-century Scottish businesspeople Deaths from blood cancer Deaths from cancer in England Journalists from Glasgow People educated at Eastbank Academy Scottish journalists Scottish newspaper editors The Independent editors The Times people {{UK-journalist-stub