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Ian Dickson BEM
A co-founder of Friends of the Beatson and its Chairman since its incorporation in 1995, Ian Dickson is one of the co-founders of the Beatson Cancer Charity and served as a non-executive director from its incorporation in October 2013 until October 2022.
Ian was born and educated in Glasgow. He graduated LLB at the University of Strathclyde in 1977. Ian was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1988 and treated successfully at the Beatson and it was his keenness to give something back for the excellent treatment and care which he received which led him, with Alan Kilpatrick, to set up Friends of the Beatson with the objective of improving, and making more tolerable, the lives of cancer patients at the Beatson.
It is the determination that Beatson patients should receive the very best possible treatment and care which inspired him and his Friends of the Beatson and BOCF colleagues to establish the Beatson Cancer Charity.
A corporate lawyer for 37 years, Ian retired as Chairman of MacRoberts in 2010. He was a Governor of the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research from 2004 until 2014, a Director, then Chair, of the Scottish Ensemble from 2004 to 2015 and a member of the University of Strathclyde Audit Committee from 2010 until 2015.
He served as The Lord Dean of Guild of the Merchants House of Glasgow from May 2017 until May 2019.
He is currently Chair of the Willow Tea Rooms Trust, a Director of the Scottish International Piano Competition, a Trustee of the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland Endowment Trust and a Deputy Lieutenant for Dunbartonshire.
Ian was awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2013 New Year Honours List for services to the welfare of people with cancer in the West of Scotland and the Strathclyde University Medal in 2019 for services to the University.
Alan Kilpatrick BEM
A co-founder of Friends of the Beatson in 1995, Alan Kilpatrick is one of the co-founders of the Beatson Cancer Charity.
Alan was born in Glasgow and then in 1984 whilst aged 19 and a student at Glasgow University, he was successfully treated at the Beatson for testicular cancer. Shortly after his recovery, he volunteered to become Treasurer of an existing cancer charity and carried out that role for the next 10 years.
In the early 1990s, he met Ian Dickson and the two then formed Friends of the Beatson in 1995 to provide practical comfort and support to patients at the Beatson. The formation of the Beatson Cancer Charity in 2014 reinforces and broadens that desire to help those who are undertaking treatment at the Beatson.
Alan qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1988 and since then has held various senior Financial, Strategic and General Management positions with Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP), Devro plc and Baxters Food Group. He is now Managing Director of The North British Distillery Company Limited.
Alan was awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2013 New Year Honours List for services to the welfare of people with cancer in the West of Scotland.
Dr Gerry Robertson
Dr Gerry Robertson has dedicated his career to cancer care and research. He is also one of our charity’s founding members; alongside Alan Kilpatrick and Ian Dickson, Gerry played a key role in the formation of the charity following the amalgamation of the Friends of the Beatson and the Beatson Oncology Centre Fund in 2014.
Gerry was Chairman and Treasurer of the Fund which was established in the early 1970’s. Its aim was to support research and clinical excellence, a commitment that continues to this day at Beatson Cancer Charity.
Gerry studied at Glasgow University: BSc 1967; Phd 1970; MB CHB 1975. He trained in clinical oncology at Glasgow and the Christie in Manchester, before finally specialising in the management of head and neck cancer and skin cancers. He was elected FRCR 1980 and FRCP (Glasgow) 1989.
During his career, Gerry was involved in developing total body Irradiation technique for patients undergoing marrow transplant in the 1980s. He introduced intensive modulated radiotherapy treatment for those with head and neck cancer in Glasgow in the 2000s. He also developed extensive research into the management of head and neck tumours, highlighting the potential harmful effect of breaks in radiotherapy treatment in the outcome of therapy.
Dr Robertson retired in 2010. As well as playing an active part in board responsibilities, he is also a very proud father and grandfather.
