Alexander Wishart obituary
Alexander Wishart, who began his banking career at the age of 16 and rose to become general manager and director of Harrods Bank in the 1980s, has died aged 81. Born in Edinburgh to Margaret (McDonald) and Alexander Wishart, he grew up in Leith and Colinton and was educated at Leith Academy and the Royal High School.
In the 1990s, Wishart served as regional managing director of Bank of Beirut (UK), overseeing the Beirut Riyad Bank UK subsidiary in 1994. Before his retirement in 2007, he was financial controller of Gorland, a fashion agency.
He met his wife, Myra Thomson, in 1966 at the Shandwick Place branch and they married in 1969, settling in Tonbridge, Kent. Together, they founded Kelly’s Trust for Sick Children in 1999, in memory of their daughter Kelly who died in 1997 aged 18. The charity has assisted hundreds of families in Kent.
Kelly Wishart’s illness motivated two London marathons, through which Alexander raised thousands of pounds for Children with Leukaemia. He also volunteered with Demelza (Kent), focusing on financial matters.
Alexander enjoyed carpentry, building bunk beds and dolls’ houses for his family. He is survived by his wife Myra, children Sara and Scott Wishart, grandchildren Alexander, Edith, May, and Phoebe, and brothers Iain and Gavin.
