Alec Dickson

Alexander Graeme Dickson (23 May 1914 – 23 September 1994) founded Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) in 1958. VSO was created to send volunteers to developing countries, and Dickson's idea came from his own "Christian but non-denominational faith". 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. A plaque marking the London house where he died was erected by the Bedford Park Society.