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.