Remembering Bill Simpson

It was a year ago yesterday that the world lost Bill Simpson, and a sad loss it was too. I only knew Bill for three and a half years but in that time he made a huge impression upon me. I was touched by his strength, his determination, his willingness to go out of his way to help those he cared about most in this world. Bill loved a rescue, dashing in on his white charger (or Discovery to be more apt) and take charge of a situation. I remember one time we were heading out to a family gathering at Ballater to celebrate Mhairi and Elaine's birthday, as the weather plummeted around us we wondered if the car would make it to the hotel high up on the hill above Ballater. But we need not worry as there was Bill waiting at the car park in town to drive us up, then return us to the car the following day. Those who knew him could point to a hundred similar stories through the years.
I wish I had the opportunity to know him for longer, to listen to his words of wisdom on any subject you chose, to give your opinion knowing that, although he may not agree with you he respected the fact that you were fighting your corner.
I visited Bill on a few occasions prior to Munro trips away, and even though he was in obvious pain he still went out of his way to print off the latest weather forecast for me, advising me of roads to take, and those to avoid after a quick check of the AA site. Yet he never wanted anything in return, except for me to make his daughter happy, and the occasional rowie (but it better be from Aitkens, or else). Hopefully I managed both successfully whilst he was here.

I remember coming back from one trip south to visit my friend Asima and insisting that we stop at Loch Fyne to buy him some oysters. When I got back to the house he insisted that I take half of them home to Mhairi "wont manage them all John" he said. So I duly returned home with half of the oysters, gave them to Mhairi who struggled to open them, she called her Dad to advise him that they may require some specialist tool to be opened, only to hear Bill slurp down the last of them....Bill didnt need special tools, Bill knew how to make do with what he had.

My abiding memory of Bill was when I crashed the car in the highlands, almost killing myself and Baino in the process, without a thought for himself (and he must have been in considerable pain at the time but hadnt said a word to anyone) he jumped on his charger, collected Mhairi from Aberdeen and drove all the way to Tain (to find out what had happened to the car) before heading into Inverness and collecting us from the hospital, then driving us home via Fochabers to drop Baino off with his wife, and leaving us back in Aberdeen. He was too sore to even get out of the discovery at our place, instead insisting that his job was done and heading back to 8BoB. A truly wonderfully selfless act of kindness and bravery by a giant of a man. 

Forever in my thoughts, the first 100 I dedicate to you.