24.08.2021

David Alfred Wilson 1937-2021

We have received the sad news that David Wilson, a joint founder of UK rental company Charles Wilson Engineers, has died aged 84. He passed away peacefully at in hospital on Saturday 21st August.

Charles Wilson Engineers was established in 1978 as the result of a partnership between Charles Gallagher and David Wilson, using an unusual blend of their two names. The company has built a brand using the CW initials – CW Access Rental, CW Tools Hire, CW Event hire etc…
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David Wilson

The company began life in a small house in the Southdown area of Harpenden, Hertfordshire, setting up the business properly in Harpenden High Street where it has maintained its headquarters and a depot to this day. David Wilson and team entered the access market very early on, with alloy scaffold towers, but quickly spotting the potential for powered access adding trailer lifts, scissors and booms in the 1980s, and becoming an influential player in the market. Along the way the company added telehandlers and now runs a substantial fleet. As the company grew it expanded geographically to offer national coverage from 18 locations across the UK.

David Wilson was the quintessential English gentleman in every way, professional, always on top of the situation, a hard worker and an inspiration to all those he worked or came into contact with. He leaves behind wife Kay, two sons Mark and Adrian and daughter Sara.

We will update this with a tribute to a veteran and character of the UK rental industry in the next Cranes & Access magazine.