Clive Couldwell, Group Editor of AV Magazine & Electronics Weekly, writes:
Richard worked on the publication just shy of 30 years, with 25 of them Editor, before leaving owner Metropolis but still remaining in touch as Consultant Editor.
With a background in telecoms, Wilson joined Plessey as an Engineer in 1980 following study at Imperial College London, where he gained a Bachelor of Science in Physics.
He joined Electronics Weekly in 1987, then published by Reed Business Information, becoming a very well-established figure in the electronics industry. He saw a lot of changes at the title on its journey from newspaper to a controlled-circulation magazine, a period of time that also saw Electronics Weekly move online, in 1994, with Hyperactive.com. Following the acquisition of the title by Metropolis Business Media (now Emap) in 2012, he was instrumental in overseeing the transition of the team and stabilising the continued production of Electronics Weekly to this day.
Richard was adept at turning his hands to a variety of topics, drawing on his wide range of learning and interests, covering business developments, distribution, test and measurement and the latest research from around the world.
“At work, he was incredibly hard-working, wise, effortlessly intelligent and dedicated to keeping Electronics Weekly on an even keel. Personally private, he was devoted to his family, and I remember him being so proud when his wife earned her PhD, and proud all over again when his son earned his PhD, the latter causing him to point out that he was the only non-doctor left in the household – that said, he did have a degree in physics from Imperial College, and properly knew his way around a laser,” said EW’s Technology Editor, Steve Bush. “Even though he was ill, he made time to pop in to see us a few months ago, and my last memory of him was smiling and chatting with us, all sat around a table at the local cafe.”
It is indeed a sad day.
