Alexander Wishart, a respected banker who rose from junior clerk to become a director of the prestigious Harrods Bank, has died at the age of 81. His professional legacy in finance, however, is matched by a profound personal legacy of charity, established in memory of his daughter.
From Edinburgh Clerk to West End Bank Director
Born in Edinburgh to Margaret, a munitions worker, and Alexander Wishart Snr, an RAF draftsman and sergeant, Alex grew up in Leith and Colinton. Fascinated by aviation, his hopes of joining the RAF were redirected by his father, a Battle of Britain veteran, who secured him a meeting at the National Commercial Bank on Leith Walk.
He began his career there as a 16-year-old junior clerk in the early 1960s. His dedication saw him transferred to London, where in 1966, while working at the Shandwick Place branch, he met secretary Myra Thomson. They married in 1969 and settled in Tonbridge, Kent.
After promotions within what became the Royal Bank of Scotland, his reputation for hard work and fairness led to him being headhunted. In 1985, he joined the Harrods Trust, where he played a pivotal role as general manager and director in rebranding the institution as Harrods Bank, overseeing its move to a state-of-the-art banking hall and launching its proprietary bank card.
A Life Changed and a Lasting Legacy Founded
Outside of banking, Alex was a skilled carpenter, crafting furniture and dolls' houses for his family. This family life was tragically altered when his younger daughter, Kelly, was diagnosed with leukaemia. She died in 1997 at the age of 18.
Channeling their grief into action, Alex ran two London Marathons, raising thousands for Children with Leukaemia. Then, in 1999, he and Myra founded Kelly's Trust for Sick Children in her memory. For over a quarter of a century, the charity has provided vital support to hundreds of families across Kent who are caring for children with terminal or long-term illnesses.
Alex further contributed by volunteering weekly with the children's hospice charity Demelza in Kent, assisting with its finances. After leaving Harrods Bank in 1994, he successfully managed the UK incorporation of the Bank of Beirut and later served as financial controller for a fashion agency before retiring in 2007.
A Family Man Remembered
In his later years, Alex enjoyed travelling with Myra and spending time with his expanding family. He is survived by his wife Myra, his children Sara and the obituary's author, his four grandchildren Alexander, Edith, May, and Phoebe, and his two brothers, Iain and Gavin.
His story is one of remarkable professional ascent in the world of UK banking, forever intertwined with a deeply personal mission of charitable support that continues to touch countless lives in Kent.
