Sir David Graham Brook Wilkinson, 3rd Bt. was born on 18 May 1947. He is the son of Sir Leonard David Wilkinson, 2nd Bt. and Sylvia Ruby Eva Anne Gater. He married, firstly, Sandra Caroline Rossdale, daughter of Dr. Richard Rossdale, on 26 July 1977. He and Sandra Caroline Rossdale were divorced in 1986. He married, secondly, Hilary Jane Bailey, daughter of W. H. C. Bailey, on 17 April 1998.
Sir David Graham Brook Wilkinson, 3rd Bt. usually went by his middle name of Graham. He was educated at Millfield School, Street, Somerset, England. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. He succeeded as the 3rd Baronet Wilkinson, of Brook, Witley, co. Surrey [U.K., 1941] on 1 November 1972