Mourned by many (From Penarth Times)

Mourned by many

MEMBERS of the Penarth Society have paid tribute to the invaluable contribution of a colleague who died recently.

William Simpson, who was a member of the society for many years, was an architect who was awarded an OBE for designing hospital buildings while working for the National Health Service.

Secretary of the Penarth Society, Audrey Poole, said: Bill was an invaluable source of information and expertise for the society.

He made an enormous contribution to our County Treasures project, researching the history of lesser known Victorian buildings in the Penarth area.

I believe he really loved the buildings covered by that project. He was always so willing to help us out.

Diana Mead, a former chairman of the society, said: During my time as chairman, Bill was a dedicated member of my committee.

His knowledge and enthusiasm made an invaluable contribution to the society s work.

His quietly spoken manner, with his deliciously dry sense of humour, brought a calm sense of purpose to our meetings.

Bill was a gentle man in every sense of the word, yet capable of great determination in his work for the Penarth Society.

I feel privileged to have know him as a good friend and honoured to have worked with him for the society.

William Simpson grew up in Shropshire and studied architecture at Sheffield University.

He leaves a wife, Margaret, three sons and one daughter.