Alexander Dickson (23 May 1914 – 23 September 1994) conceived the idea of sending volunteers to developing countries and founded Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) in 1958. The first volunteers went to Sarawak, Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia.
On leaving VSO in 1962, Dickson formed Community Service Volunteers, which focused on UK-based volunteer projects.
Dickson married Mora Robertson in 1951. He became a MBE in 1945 and a CBE in 1967.