Brian Simpson

Born September 1933 in Wolverhampton, grew up in Cardiff and Liverpool where I was educated.

Called up for National Service and enlisted at Padgate in October 1952. After initial training at Hednesford and clerical and typing training at Hereford (now SAS headquarters) was first posted to the RAF Central Library at Cosford before spending whole of second year of service (October 1953 - October 1954) in Logistics Section of HQ AAFCE, Fontainebleau.

After National Service joined Dunlop Rubber Company as sales trainee in the Footwear Division at Speke, Liverpool. After a number of managerial posts in the Footwear and Dunlopillo Divisions was appointed President of Dunlop Slazenger, North America and spent seven years in that post based in South Carolina before returning to the UK in 1989 as Strategic Planning Director for Dunlop Slazenger worldwide. In 1996, when the Sports business became a management buyout was appointed Managing Director Europe and later combined the posts of Strategic Development Director and Company Secretary before retiring in 1999.

Brian Simpson, born September 1933 in Wolverhampton, grew up in Cardiff and Liverpool where I was educated.

Called up for National Service enlisted at Padgate in October 1952. After initial training at Hednesford and clerical and typing training at Hereford (now SAS headquarters) was first posted to the RAF Central Library at Cosford before spending whole of second year of service (October 1953 - October 1954) in Logistics Section of HQ AAFCE, Fontainebleau.

Industry appointments included chairmanship of British Foam Manufacturers, Vice President of Cardiff Chamber of Commerce, and a Director of CBI Wales, President of the Tennis Foundation of North America and a director of the USA National Golf Foundation. In 1982 was awarded the OBE for services to Welsh Industry.

Married in 1958 to Sarah, who died in 2012, we had two children; Emma, a lawyer based in Bicester, and Ben, a computer software sales director based in Reading. During 'youthful years' was keen sportsman (rugby, hockey, tennis and squash). In the case of hockey played for RAF Hednesford, Hereford and Cosford and, while in Fontainebleau, for the 'international' AAFCE team.

Since retirement moved to the small village of Llowes in Radnorshire (close to Hay-on-Wye and Brecon). After a period of project work for Dunlop Slazenger wrote two books on the 100 year history of the Dunlop Slazenger business, and the parallel history of the development of popular sports in the UK and worldwide. Current interests include sport as a spectator, especially rugby, cricket and tennis and fanatical about Liverpool F.C.

Also local and general history, pre-Beeching railways, theatre, gardening, lots of reading and voluntary work in the local community including being a Samaritan and involvement with the annual Hay Literary Festival.

Industry appointments included chairmanship of British Foam Manufacturers, Vice President of Cardiff Chamber of Commerce, a Director of CBI Wales, President of the Tennis Foundation of North America and a director of the USA National Golf Foundation. In 1982 was awarded the OBE for services to Welsh Industry.