Charles Goodson-Wickes

Dr Charles Goodson-Wickes DL (born 7 November 1945) was the Director General of Canning House, the London-based foundation dedicated to the promotion of Latin American and Iberian political and cultural issues in the United Kingdom from May 2010 to November 2012.

Dr Goodson was British Conservative Member of Parliament for Wimbledon from 1987 to 1997.

He served in the British Army Life Guards, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and served in the first Gulf War.

Great-grandson of Sir Frank Ignatius Fox, O.B.E (1874-1960)

Education

Goodson-Wickes was educated at Charterhouse, St Bartholomew's Hospital and Inner Temple. He is a qualified barrister (called to the Bar 1972) and physician (1970).

Political career

A lifelong member of the Conservative Party, Goodson-Wickes was elected to the House of Commons in 1987 representing Wimbledon, having previously unsuccessfully contested Islington Central in 1979. While an MP he served as Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Departments of Treasury, Environment and Transport. In 1997 he lost his seat to Roger Casale. He is also Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London.

Military career

Goodson-Wickes was a British Army Officer and served as Surgeon Captain (Medical Officer) in the Life Guards, serving in Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Germany (1973–1977), appointed in 1977 to the position of Silver Stick's Medical Officer for the Household Cavalry. He remained a member of Regular Army Reserve of Officers (RARO) until 2000. He re-enlisted in 1991 as a Lieutenant Colonel to serve in the First Gulf War with the HQ 7th Armoured Brigade, seeing action in the liberation of Kuwait through Saudi Arabia and Iraq. He was the first sitting member of the House of Commons to see active service in the Armed Forces since World War II.

Business career

Goodson-Wickes has served as Director of Nestor Healthcare Group Plc (1993–1999), Chief Executive of Medarc Ltd, currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors Thomas Greg and Sons Ltd among others.

Charity and public service

Goodson-Wickes was Founder Chairman (1997–1999) and now Patron of the Countryside Alliance. He has been Chairman of the Rural Trust since 1999. From 1998 to 2007 Goodson-Wickes was Chief Executive of London Playing Fields Foundation (Chairman 1997-1998) and a member of the London Sports Board (2000–2003). He served as Chairman of BFFS (British Field Sports Society) from 1994–1997 and was a member of the Public Affairs Committee (1980–1987) and is Vice President of the Great Bustard Group (2008-) which is re-introducing the Great Bustard to Great Britain. He is Vice President (1990 -) of the Ex-Servicemen's Mental Welfare Society, better known as Combat Stress. He was Governor of Highbury Grove School in Islington (1977–1985).

He was Director General of Canning House from May 2010 to November 2012. He became Deputy Lieutenant of Islington in 2012.

References

• Times Guide to the House of Commons, Times Newspapers Limited, 1997