David Simpson

DAVID Simpson, who had a distinguished accountancy career in Huddersfield where he was a leading figure in the business community, has died aged 84.
David SimpsonDavid Simpson
David Simpson

He worked for more than 40 years for chartered accountants Simpson Wood where he was senior partner, having followed in his father’s footsteps. His death means the firm has lost its last member of the Simpson family.

His love and enthusiasm for everything he did meant that he set up his own consultancy when he retired from the firm in 1994 and worked for another 20 years until the week he died, a month short of his 85th birthday.

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His only concession in recent years had been to take Thursdays off.

He was well regarded for having both an analytical mind with ability in detailed technical areas, and the capacity to view the bigger picture which enabled him to provide all-round financial advice to his clients.

He acted for a wide cross section of businesses and individuals, and became a trusted adviser to many clients over the years.

David Broadbent Simpson was born in Huddersfield, the son of H L Simpson, and went to school in the town. He joined Simpson Wood in the late 1940s, qualifying as a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in 1953 before following his father by becoming a partner, and later senior partner, in the firm. He was also an Associate Member of the Institute of Taxation.

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Mr Simpson was a director on the boards of a number of companies in the area including Hepworth Plc, Somerfield Pension Trustees Ltd, Roberts Castings Ltd, Greenhead Books Ltd and Highfield Industrial Holdings Ltd, and was also a past president of Huddersfield Society of Chartered Accountants, and a founder member and past president of Huddersfield Junior Chamber of Commerce.

His also had charitable and voluntary interests including serving on Kirklees Area Health Authority where he was vice-chairman for two years leading up to reorganisation in 1981.

He had been chairman of the J Louis Brook Homes charity and of trustees of HP Dugdale Foundation, a charity which helps needy people in the Huddersfield area, as well as chairman of the Local Advisory Committee of Nuffield Hospital.

For 13 years, he was a governor of Bretton Hall College from 1989 to 2002, a trustee of Huddersfield YMCA of which he was president in 1981, and a former member of Huddersfield Round Table and 41 Club.

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As well as his busy working life, he also found time for a number of hobbies included fishing, philately, collecting antique model railways and had a keen interest in cricket.

Mr Simpson is survived by his wife Barbara, children Andrew and Clare, and grandchildren Mark, Katie and Victoria.

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