Obituary: Alan Dawson, army and charity adviser

Alan Dawson, army and charity adviser.

Born: 27 July, 1924, in Edinburgh.

Died: 20 June, 2011, in Oxfordshire, aged 87.

IN A varied but very active career Alan Dawson moved with some ease from distinguished military service - particularly during the Second World War with the Royal Scots and 8th Gurkha Rifles - to working in Africa, before returning to Scotland to become a much-respected managing director of Craigmyle & Co, the long established fund raising company.

As a fund-raiser Dawson specialised in advising many Scottish schools and universities on improving their scholastic facilities.

Alan Munro Dawson attended George Watson's College, where he was a member of the swimming and shooting teams.

He joined up on the outbreak of the Second World War and after a short spell with the Royal Scots he trained as a paratrooper. On gaining his commission Dawson was posted to 8th Gurkha Rifles and saw action in the Far East. He was wounded but, typically, returned to active service as soon as he was fit.

After being demobbed he returned to the Royal Scots and one of his early duties was to be closely involved with the organisation of the first Edinburgh Military Tattoos initially in the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Garden - moving, with great success, to the Castle Esplanade in 1950.

Dawson was involved with the last tattoo (mostly comprising piping and Scottish country dancing) in the gardens and then in the complex organisation for the first event at the castle.

In 1950 he joined the Cameroon Development Corporation which was founded by the British government to take over the running of previously German-owned plantations in the Cameroons.

The company was a thriving concern and had various agriculture interests.

Dawson was principally involved as manager at the oil palm plantation at a new factory in Idenau and was later based in Sierra Leone where he principally developed oil plantations.

He returned to the UK in 1963 and became a fund raising consultant with Craigmyle & Co, latterly becoming the managing director of its operations in Scotland.

The company was created in 1959 by Thomas Craigmyle (who ran the business from London and his house in Knoydart) and has now become one of Britain's most successful fund-raising consultancies.

Dawson organised funds for many schools and universities in Scotland including George Heriot's, (which he always found amusing being a Watsonian), Rannoch School, Strathallan and Edinburgh University.

He retired in 1984 and became involved with The Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust, where he advised and mentored young men and women as they set up their own businesses.

In this capacity he was regularly in consultation with Prince Charles about the work of the trust throughout Scotland.Apart from concern for the activities of the trust, they had a further mutual interest in the Royal Gurkha Rifles, of which the Prince is Colonel in Chief.

Graham Bell took over the running of the Trust in Edinburgh in 1999 and recalls with admiration the work done by Dawson.

"Alan was my most active aftercare advisor. For over ten years he gave freely of his time mentoring young people starting their own businesses, until at the age of 80 he felt the age gap might be off-putting.

"The mark of true gentlemen is that they are also gentle men. Unfailingly courteous, always willing, Alan was a stalwart in helping young people find their feet, often in difficult circumstances."

On leaving the Prince's Trust Dawson graciously cared for his wife, Marjorie, who he nursed through dementia. After her death he remained active in helping good causes and was asked by East Lothian to give advice on providing care for the elderly in the home.

Graham Bell concluded his memories of Dawson with an affectionate comment: "There are some people in your life you are proud to have known.

"Alan had modelled intelligence, wit, good conversation and impeccable manners. I am grateful for the lessons he taught me."

Dawson, who died in Oxfordshire while visiting family, married his wife Marjorie in 1950.

She predeceased him and he is survived by their son.