The man who invented the vegan

THE man who founded the Vegan Society – and invented the word vegan – has died at his home in Keswick at the age of 95.

Donald Watson was best known locally as a highly-respected teacher of crafts at Lairthwaite Secondary Modern School. Many tradesmen in and around Keswick received encouragement and support from him.

Not everyone in Keswick realised that Mr Watson was nationally known as founder of the Vegan Society, which now has more than 250,000 members, and the man credited with inventing the word “vegan”.

Mr Watson grew up in South Yorkshire, the son of a headmaster. He left school at 15 to become an apprentice joiner and did not enter teaching until he was 20, after completing his City & Guilds qualifications in joinery.

He worked at a school in Leicester before coming to Lairthwaite when the school opened in 1951. He taught there until his retirement in 1973 and for six years after that was a guided walk leader in Keswick, reflecting his own great love of the fells.

Mr Watson was a conscientious objector during the war, but worked hard at his chosen profession as a teacher and was also a voluntary fireman.

It was in 1944 that he and Elsie Shrigley decided to co-ordinate the interests of non dairy vegetarians and form the Vegan Society.

He had many critics, even among vegetarians, who felt it was not possible to survive on that kind of diet.

He was determined to prove them wrong and had never been ill in his life until last year when he was diagnosed with a heart condition and finally received conventional treatment which gave him another year of good-quality of life.

Mr Watson had a very natural approach to life, believing that with the right diet, exercise and fresh air, the body would heal itself. He never drank alcohol or smoked but never criticised those who did.

He was closely involved with the work of the Vegan Society and the belief that animals had as much right to life as we do. Dozens of letters would arrive at his home each week and he brought out a regular newsletter. The Vegan Society grew into an established educational charity and a limited company.

Throughout his life he maintained his love of walking in the Lake District fells, a hobby he and his late wife Dorothy shared before her death in 1994.

A tradition was his “birthday walks” and in the last 10 years of his life he climbed Scafell, Skiddaw, Blencathra, Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks.

Last year, on his 94th birthday, he reached the top of Latrigg. He was also a familiar figure walking up and down into Keswick daily from his home in Chestnut Hill.

Mr Watson leaves many reminders of his woodworking skills at the family home.

Published on 02/12/2005