A leading personality in the life of Bourne as an educationalist and council leader stamped his mark on the town during the middle years of the 20th century. Not only did Percy Wilson help steer Bourne Secondary Modern School through the early stages of its existence but he also became the first Mayor of Bourne when the office was inaugurated in 1974 and his contribution to the community was significant, playing an important part in public life for more than thirty years and is remembered as a strong and independent leader who drove through significant changes, always confident of his own opinion and rarely accepting a consensus.

Laurence Percy Wilson (everyone knew him as Percy) was born on 23rd September 1918, son of Herbert and Alice Wilson, and attended Bourne Grammar School where he decided to become a teacher. He served with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War of 1939-45 and on demobilisation, started teaching his chosen subjects of mathematics and science, soon winning a reputation as a strong and inspirational teacher, dedicated to firmly leading his pupils throughout their school years and often finding several generations from the same family in his classes..

In 1951, he joined the teaching staff at Bourne Secondary Modern School after it was established in Queen's Road where it rapidly expanded in size and he eventually became deputy headmaster. Politics soon became a passion and he was elected to Bourne Urban District Council when its powers were far wider than the town council of today. In 1973, he was elected leader of the council which continued to administer local affairs until April 1974 when it was superseded by South Kesteven District Council but he continued in the appointment, giving the authority a strong brand of leadership during its formative years. He was also chairman of the then finance and land committee for seven years that led to many achievements and helped create a stable and healthy financial basis, the benefits of which are felt to this day. He was briefly out of office in 1977 but returned in 1979 and remained for the next 12 years.

It was Mr Wilson's uncompromising approach that led to the building of the council's headquarters in Grantham in 1987, an ultra-modern office complex with a purpose built council chamber and associated meeting rooms and offices which still feel modern and fresh almost 20 years later. Until then, the council had been managed from three sites in the town which inevitably led to considerable inefficiencies.

At the same time that SKDC was formed, Bourne Town Council also came into being as a parish council with powers to elect its own mayor and Mr Wilson became the first to take office, agreeing to filling the position during the difficult first 12 months of the changeover.

In 1980, he became leader of the Conservative group on SKDC, an appointment he accepted with the remark: "I will be your leader but only if you want to be led" but the choice proved to be a popular one and he remained at the helm until retiring from council work in 1991.

Mr Wilson served a spell as secretary of the National Union of Teachers and was also on the board of governors at Bourne Grammar School. He was also deeply involved in the sporting life of the town, particularly soccer, running both the Bourne League and the Bourne and District League as well as organising local cup competitions while actively supporting local cricket clubs during the summer season.

He died at his home in Lilac Close, Bourne, on 28th October 2005, aged 87, and the funeral was held at the Abbey Church on November 7th followed by cremation at Peterborough. His widow, Mary Ann Wilson, died on 14th February 2011, aged 91.

Terry Bates, who with his wife Sue taught under Mr Wilson at Bourne Secondary Modern School, remembered him with affection. "Percy was one of the rocks on which secondary education was built in the town", he said. "So many pupils, and indeed teachers, had cause for many years to be grateful to him."

Councillor Mrs Shirley Cliffe, who served with him on Bourne Town Council, also remembered him with affection. "Percy will be very sadly missed", she said. "He was one of the great characters of the town and we are losing too many of them."