I joined Wilson’s group in 1985 just as he moved to St Andrews from Imperial College. I regard those years of working in his group with Nigel Langford, Kevin Smith and a little later Dave Spence & others, as the origins of my career and a very special time indeed. Under Wilson’s supervion, guidance and support, we had a fantastic time – contributing to the science of ultrashort pulse lasers and great fun too!  I will never forget his jovial and supporting nature, nor indeed the occaisonal meal we had when he kindly invited us to his home, where Barbara cooked us the most amazing meal! It is a privelge to have known and worked with Wilson even if just for a few years during my PhD….

Wilson was a genuinely nice guy who’s arrival in the department brought a breath of fresh air. Shortly after joining from Imperial he accompanied my SH class to The Burn and took the time to join in, chat and share his wisdom with us. As undergraduates, we hadn’t been used to professors being so approachable or down to Earth. Later, as a PhD student and postdoc working on high power lasers I never had the privilege of working with him directly but his enthusiasm and passion for experimental physics was felt by us all. A sad loss. I would also like to give thanks for the reference he wrote that got me into teacher training college and set me on the career path I still follow today….

I was saddened to hear that Wilson has passed away. I was in Arthur Maitland’s laser group when Wilson arrived in 1985.  I recall his arrival and his first lodgings on Queen’s Terrace. Though I left St.Andrews that year, I followed his progress and tremendous contribution to UK science and laser physics. A fine man who will be remembered and missed by many. My condolences to his family….

Wilson was truly the mentor who shaped my career. I always felt more positive, inspired and motivated after countless chats and discussions. Without him and his enduring support,  I would never have secured my career in science and so much more. A wonderful, beautiful life well lived. He will never be forgotten….

I had the privilege to join Wilson’s Group, W squad as it was, back in 2004 with the simple aim of developing a thermal imaging endoscope to assist the ongoing collaboration with Ninewells Hospital. During that first week in the new role, Wilson took me over to the R&A for lunch:- his choice [I think egg on mince might be some classic R&A thing?] and our yarn, were summarily [but incredibly politely!] neglected in favour of assessing the swing of the next person up on tee outside the grand windows over there. After which time, he’d come back to the point of the previous conversation with not one detail out of place and a list of potential ramifications if x , y or z were upheld.  Suffice it to say that we hit it off, and I was certainly in awe of his utter brilliance. He could be insightful for sure but his direct experience of experimental physics was so deep and broad that, more often than not, when I suggested something [stupid], he tended to let me down gently by explaining how he’d been there [i.e. where I had intended to tread!] before himself – and perhaps a…

I first met Wilson in the late 1980s when we, in Glasgow. were proposing to build a long baseline gravitational wave detector in Tentsmuir Forrest and indeed had obtained outline planning permission for the instrument. St Andrews physics department was an obvious base for such a detector and Wilson was very keen to attract myself and some colleagues to move from Glasgow to St Andrews, and the then Principal, Struther Arnott, made significant efforts to encourage us. However funding  considerations changed somewhat  and set us off in the direction of collaboration with a research group in one of the Max Planck Institutes in Munich, while the size of our research group made the move to St Andrews impractical. However Wilson, with his ever presnt enthusiasm, remained a very strong supporter of our work and a highly valued advisor to me.  Regular summer golf games, along with Alan Watson from Leeds, with me lagging far behind, kept us in touch, not to mention out mutual interest in tortoises. Fred who had come up fom Imperial with the family was considerably older than my animal Maxwell and hibernated in winter whereas Maxwell did not – an interesting area for discussion with…

Wilson was a shining light; a presence, always vibrant, positive, and warm in his nature.  I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunity he gave me over 30 years ago, which has given me a life-long career in a very special place. It was a pleasure to work with Wilson and support him. His smile and warmth will remain within the School of Physics and Astronomy and we will talk of him often and share our stories. Thank you Wilson, a colleague, supporter, and friend. Rest well now. …

Wilson was a remarkable scientist and exceptional person.  I enjoyed his conference talks and remember him coming to one of mine at CLEO Europe in 1994.  He was instrumental in my move to St Andrews in 2000, and his pioneering work on modelocked lasers was a very attractive aspect of the department.   It was an exciting time as he had just won the largest ever grant from EPRSC for the Ultrafast Photonics Collaboration.  Although it was not his field, he could see the potential of organic semiconductor research decades before these materials became part of our everyday lives and supported my work to develop them, including for medical applications.  He was always very happy to discuss any technical issue, grant idea or problem.  He was very incisive, whilst also being very  supportive and encouraging, thereby contributing not only to the scientific life of the department, but also its constructive atmosphere and culture.   He was a very engaging speaker, and in conversation gave his undivided attention to whoever he was talking to.  He is an irreplaceable colleague who will be sorely missed….

Having been inspired by a talk on ultrafast lasers that Wilson gave at Strathclyde University when I was an undergraduate, I was lucky to join the W-Squad as a PhD student in 1989. I remember on my first day he said, “Reading papers is important, but don’t let it stop you getting into the lab and just trying things.” Fundamental advice for every experimentalist. Most days, after his administrative duties as head of department were over, he’d take time to walk through his labs to see what his group had been up to. The conversations usually started with a warm smile and, “Are you winnin?” Wilson was always very generous with his time, patient to a fault and, as many others have highlighted, encouraged you to try and push your boundaries a little and test what you can do. His mentorship extended well beyond my PhD and postdoc. I am very grateful to have known and worked with him….

I will miss Wilson very much as a friend and mentor. He was always generous with his time, insights, and wisdom. I greatly profited from this. His guidance went beyond work advice and his presence in our lives was treasured. He was there for us as a family, offering support and kindness. His influence will remain with us….

I have known Wilson for many years as a colleague at St Andrews and as a fellow golfer.  Since we both retired our meetings have generally been at golf outings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, events of which Wilson was a keen supporter and played a large part in establishing.  It was always a pleasure to interact with him both professionally and on the course and I would like to extend my condolences to all his family and friends. Alan Cairns…

There has been a commonality to the conversations: fond reminiscences of a formative time in our lives and the sharing of anecdotes that still serve as templates for what we strive to be. Those of us who had the great good fortune to work with Wilson as students, post-docs, and colleagues carry with us not a yardstick against which to measure ourselves or others: that was never his way. We carry a toolkit. A shared toolkit that when combined with the crucial support of colleagues helps us to collectively do that wee bit more than we thought we could. And then invites us to pass the favour forward. A community: so many of us in so many places whom Wilson shaped so much as scientists and as people.  …

Wilson’s passing marks a great loss to the photonics community, to Scotland, the UK, and indeed the world at large.  He was a major figure during that exciting period during which we saw so many rapid research developments in lasers, optoelectronics and photonics.  Wilson’s impact – both directly and indirectly – was immense.  Not to mention his role in furthering public science policy.My personal connections date back to his time of working with Dan Bradley at Imperial College and these became closer after we both moved north to Scotland.  Wilson supported enthusiastically the value of research collaborations that brought together a range of expertise and experience to tackle major new areas.  I was particular grateful for his support of our (Heriot-Watt) Scottish Collaborative Initiative in Optoelectronic Sciences (SCIOS) – and, as ever his contributions were invaluable.  I also recall many happy memories of attending overseas conferences with Wilson and enjoying hugely those convivial occasions, relaxing together after the day’s formal sessions.  And one always came away having learned something new!  I was hoping to attend his Memorial Service on the 8th November but, unfortunately, am unable to.  My very sincere condolences to Barbara, his family and all his friends…