John Willson was born 15 July 1931, son of Richard and Kathleen Willson. He was educated at Wimbledon College, University College, University of Oxford) and also Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge. In 1954, he married Phyllis Marian Dawn, daughter of William and Phyllis Holman Richards, OBE, having two sons and two daughters.

Following his National Service, 1949-51, Willson initially joined the Colonial Service, serving in the following posts: Northern Rhodesia [later Zambia], 1955-64; Ministry of Overseas Development, 1965-70; seconded to British High Commission, Malta, as First Secretary (Economic), 1967-70. He then joined the Diplomatic Service in 1970, and his diplomatic postings included: British Consulate-General, Johannesburg [South Africa], 1972-75; Foreign and Commonwealth Office (West Indian and North American Departments), 1975-8; Special Counsellor for African Affairs, 1978; Secretary-General, Rhodesian Independence Conference, 1979; on staff of Lord Soames, Governor of Rhodesia [later Zimbabwe], 1979-80; Counsellor, Bucharest [Romania], 1980-82; Ambassador to Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso (earlier Upper Volta) and Niger, 1983-87; High Commissioner in Zambia, 1988-90. Willson died on 17 April 2013.