Robert
Wilkinson OBE 1933-2023

Bob, born Robert Purdy Wilkinson, grew up in Seaham, County Durham and was head boy at Ryhope Grammar School. He read politics and economics at the University of  Durham, where he met June Palmer. They married in 1957 and celebrated 65 years together.

After graduating, Bob’s national service with the Royal Army Educational Corps took him to Trieste, after which he returned to Durham to study for a diploma in education. He was a teacher, briefly, and subsequently a stockbroker in the City of London. His interest was the enforcement of financial regulations and prevention of insider training, and he was appointed the first inspector of the London Stock Exchange, a position he held until 1984, and subsequently Director of Surveillance. He was key to modernising the London Stock Exchange’s Regulatory News Service (RNS), and instrumental in establishing the Securities and Investments Board, now part of the Financial Conduct Authority. Bob was awarded an OBE in 1990 for his services to the Stock Exchange, and he advised many international governments on financial regulation matters.

Bob became a Governor of Sevenoaks School in 1990 and the Chair from 1999 to 2002; he oversaw significant changes including the switch from A-levels to all Sixth Formers  taking the IB Diploma. He also served as Chair of Trustees of the Sevenoaks School Foundation from its inception in 2004 to 2012. He was a great and longstanding supporter of the school, and three of his grandchildren, Jonty, Jeremy and Laurence, are all Old Sennockians.

Bob had a passion for cricket and could be seen regularly watching school matches at Solefields, and at the Vine Cricket Club – he celebrated 50 years’ membership of the club in 2019. Even when his health deteriorated, we kept him up to date with news of sporting events, especially rugby, football and cricket – he would have been delighted about England’s third-test win over Australia at Headingley!

Bob will be sadly missed by all who knew him, particularly his devoted wife June, daughters Katie and Suki, seven grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.

Jonty Warner (OS 2005)