The Queen's College Record 2020

Not one for a small town existence, he moved to London after he graduated, working
first at the department store, Simpsons, in Piccadilly, where he met his first wife, Meryl,
before accepting a position with RTB. Here his travels took him to Europe, North and
South America, and the Far East. He became particularly fond of Japan where some
of his clients and colleagues became lifelong friends. Similarly, in Europe he made
many friends and, inspired by his love for the Mediterranean, he learnt to speak both
Spanish and Italian.
Obituaries
However, frustrated by the direction of economic and political travel in Britain in
the late 1970s, especially the demise of the steel industry under nationalisation, he
moved to Paris where, given his market experience, he was chosen for a new role
pursuing strategy in the tinplate sector. Sadly, Meryl died shortly after their move, but
through a friend he met his second wife, Marlene, a German fashion designer, also
recently widowed, from Koblenz. They lived very happily in St Germain-en-Laye until
his retirement when they moved for a few years to Normandy before returning to
London in 2004. In later life they travelled extensively, enjoying fine wine and food and
exercising their linguistic skills.
He died of heart problems in a care home in February, and is survived by Marlene who
also lives there due to severe dementia. He leaves two children, Sian and Mark, and
four grandchildren.
Mark Pearson
JOHN SIMSON
John Simson, who has died aged 88, was a successful
businessman, notably as Chairman of Constantine in
which capacity he managed the acquisition, flotation
and de-merger of Connell plc.
He was born in London on 12 October 1931, when his
parents Gerry and Virginia had returned from Iraq where
his father, a squadron commander of the Poona Horse,
was serving as Inspector of Cavalry for the Iraq army.
Virginia was the daughter of Vicente Echeverria Larrain,
Consul General of Chile in London. John was educated at Wellington College where
the tuition of the Master, Wilfrid House DSO, prepared him to win an open scholarship
at The Queen’s College in 1951.
He joined The Royal Scots as a national service recruit and later trained at Eaton Hall
where he was appointed Senior Under Officer and awarded the Best Cadet Cup. He
was employed as Weapon Training Officer for the Lowland Brigade and completed his
service in the 15th Scottish Battalion of The Parachute Regiment, at that time under
College Record 2020 | The Queen’s College 133