LEFT FIELD: Read my memoir for free

"David Wilson has lived a life and a half. I was proud to play a minor role in War Child, an organisation in which David was inspirational. The broken world needed people like David then; it still does and it always will" -- Sir Tom Stoppard

"David Wilson is an adventurer and a free-thinker who ... did something truly useful with his life. His stubborn and yet self-effacing commitment to his ideals carried him through many daunting situations, and his sense of humour kept him able to see the funny side"-- Brian Eno

"What a life this man has led" -- Dorothy Byrne, former head of Channel 4 TV News

"David Wilson is a national treasure"-- Mandla Langa, Winner of 2009 Commonwealth Prize

"This is the work of a determined guy who is prepared to expose fraud and injustice wherever he finds it "-- David Hencke. Former Guardian investigative journalist

 "One of the key people of my life has finished his book. There is a chapter that describes the times we spent together. What good times we had while giving spirit to the Pavarotti Music Centre. This was after my orphanage times and steered me to who I am and what I do today. Thank you David" -- Orhan (Oha) Maslo, Director Mostar Rock School

"Your relationship with your elderly father is described in such beautiful style that it would not be out of place from a literary novel by an established and seasoned author" - -Ed Victor Literary Agency

"Left Field is fantastic. So much I don’t know about someone I know well… and so much vivid colour around the bits I did know well. The Mostar sections are incredible - and salutary"-- Michael Walling, Artistic Director, Border Crossings

LEFT FIELD CAN NOW BE READ 

HERE

but start with 

BRIAN ENO INTERVIEW

& FIM intro

my letters from Tom Stoppard

It’s over 25 years since I left Mostar and my role as director of the Pavarotti Music Centre. I had to leave, not because I had completed my tenure there, but because I was sacked from War Child for exposing corruption.

All the charity’s patrons resigned in my support, including Pavarotti, David Bowie, Brent Hansen and Juliet Stevenson. Two of the patrons who were most active in solidarity with me were Tom Stoppard and Brian Eno. As well as the resigning patrons there was David Hencke at The Guardian, Jon Snow at Channel 4, Brian’s partner, Anthea Norman-Taylor, Dorothy Byrne, Jane Glitre, Steve Day, Hiroshi Kato, Liz & Peter Huhne, Berry Ritchie, Johnny Carmichael and others giving me the support I needed to carry on with my life. That is just in the UK. In Bosnia Herzegovina the list is much longer.

I was recently invited to celebrate Tom’s life, but couldn’t go for health reasons. I was informed that the Harry Ransom Library in Texas were hosting the playwright’s archive and I offered to send them the many letters and notes I had received from Tom over those difficult years. In return I was told by his family that the Library would make a donation to a music-based charity and I suggested it be the Mostar Rock School. That was agreed.

I may have left Mostar many years ago, but the MORS survives, thrives and continues to carry on with the spirit of what we started so long ago - the overriding principle being to unite all communities with music.

Tom – I have parted with your letters, but was careful to copy them so they remain with me as does my respect for you