Wilfred Gordon Simpson 1932 – 1999

Gordon Simpson died suddenly on 21st October 1999. He was for many years a member of the Council, (later the Board), Honorary Secretary, Chairman, and President of the Association [of Consulting Scientists] and, for two years (1980-1982), Chairman of the Testing Laboratories Group. He prepared and edited the ACS Newsletter and prepared and edited the Directory of Members and Services. He was one of two Principal Consultants of Analysis For Industry.

Gordon was born in Oldham, Lancashire, and obtained a scholarship to Hulme Grammar School. He left school some years later with 10 subjects at Ordinary Level, 2 subjects at Subsidiary Level and 4 subjects at Higher Level. (These were to become later GCE O and A Levels but at that time were managed by a Matriculation Board). In addition to the above he took a scholarship paper in English Literature in which he achieved a distinction.

He was awarded an Exhibition scholarship which enabled him to attend Trinity College Dublin (TCD), a fine old university which, some years ago, celebrated its quatercentenary, in which we were privileged to take part. Here he obtained a Master of Arts degree in Economics.

Immediately after leaving university he was conscripted into the army for the then compulsory national service. Although he was selected for officer training, he declined it with thanks, particularly when offered a regular commission. The army forgave him, however, and he spent the rest of the time assisting a brigadier to prepare and issue the RAOC Gazette. His army testimonial included such references to him as: “..has a photographic memory..”, “..well above average in all respects..” etc.

He then joined a pharmaceutical company in Folkestone/Sandwich where we met. Following this he joined a large company in the plastics industry, leaving to become a consultant to a firm of consulting engineers, and finally as investment consultant to a merchant bank in the city. He left there to join Analysis For Industry over twenty years ago.

He was a kind, gentle and sensitive man and, because of this, vulnerable. Unjust criticism gave him pain and he never forgot it. He was purist and deprecated the change to non-English spelling by the British Standards Institution. An official of the International Standards Organization directed the Oxford Dictionary Department to change the spelling of sulphur in its dictionaries. This was declined gracefully by Oxford.

Gordon was a book collector and obtained a higher research degree in literature as a mature external student from the University of Essex for his thesis on Maurice Baring. More recently he was considering another thesis on a different author, but the interviewer at Essex said “ I’ve never heard of him. Did you make him up?” Gordon was disgusted and was to have transferred his allegiance to Oxford (where they had heard of him), but he died before he could continue along this way.

While traditional in his views in many ways, he was prepared to accept progress and, indeed, agreed that the facsimile machine, floppy disks, scanners, photocopiers and other electronic devices were of great value in his work.

His dislikes included incompetent bureaucracy, jargon, Muzak, ‘junk’ food and injustice. His likes included the works of Evelyn Waugh, the films of Jacques Tati, pre-1950s jazz, philately and my cooking (fortunately).

We did not always agree but mutual affection and respect ensured that there was never any acrimony, and disagreements were resolved within minutes. He could be stubborn about matters close to his heart, on one occasion leaving his employers because he considered them highly unethical.

On 21st October 1999 Gordon attended the local hospital for a cataract operation. He collapsed before reaching the ward and when found could not be resuscitated. He has received dozens of tributes and they are still arriving. One floral tribute at his funeral bore the words “To a gentle gentleman”. That said it all…

Diana Simpson
Association of Consulting Scientists Newsletter
Spring 2000

Click on a photograph to open in a new window