Our friend, Chris Simpson, spoke of his life, filled with adventure and near misses; his talk
entitled - “Why am I Here?”
During the Battle of Britain in 1940, Chris was born in the cellar. He, in a pram, and his mother
escaped another bombing raid on the street when they were out walking.
Christmas as a 12 year old was in Berlin where his father, and airline pilot, was able to take the
family. During that time he had an unhappy encounter with a soldier guarding the Russian
quarter pointing a gun at him with intent.
entitled - “Why am I Here?”
During the Battle of Britain in 1940, Chris was born in the cellar. He, in a pram, and his mother
escaped another bombing raid on the street when they were out walking.
Christmas as a 12 year old was in Berlin where his father, and airline pilot, was able to take the
family. During that time he had an unhappy encounter with a soldier guarding the Russian
quarter pointing a gun at him with intent.
As a prefect at primary school, Chris attempted to intervene in a fight but ended up with a cut
wrist from falling glass. A temporary bandage got him the 13 Km. home on his bicycle before
stitches.
After Primary school, Chris won a boarding scholarship to Magdalen college where he had to
catch up with physics, chemistry and ancient Greek studies. There he joined the air corps and
had a rather interesting parachute jump from below the recommended safety altitiude.
It was during this time that Chris, in a rowing 8, encountered a snow storm, got a lock-keeper out
to let them through, and eventually colllided with a VW while cycling home into the storm.
A driving lesson with his Dad landed the jeep on its side as it cornered, but he did eventually get
his license when he was 18.
In 1958, Chris won a scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford. During the first 2 years he won the
whist championship, stage-managed 2 plays and drank much draught Guiness. The third year
was one of panic as he prepared for and succeeded in his final year, before a fourth year of
research to gain his Honours Degree.
Travelling with his family to South Africa at about this time, there was a very close encounter
with 2 large elephants iin the Kruger National Park in an unreliable car which did eventually start
just in time.
Chris eventually completed his D. Phil in chemistry on a studentship, and along the way
identified a number of new compounds and designed and produced specialized equipment for
the task.
Working life for Chris lead him to areas of industrial safety and design of specialized equipment
for the mining industry in Australia. He recounted several close calls with impending disaster.
Chris completed his working life chairing international committees working on Electrical
Standards for the IEC.
Chirstchurch NZ seemed an ideal place for retirement, but then there was an earthquake…. So
now Chris is in Hamilton.
Chris Simpson Guest Speaker
Chris
wrist from falling glass. A temporary bandage got him the 13 Km. home on his bicycle before
stitches.
After Primary school, Chris won a boarding scholarship to Magdalen college where he had to
catch up with physics, chemistry and ancient Greek studies. There he joined the air corps and
had a rather interesting parachute jump from below the recommended safety altitiude.
It was during this time that Chris, in a rowing 8, encountered a snow storm, got a lock-keeper out
to let them through, and eventually colllided with a VW while cycling home into the storm.
A driving lesson with his Dad landed the jeep on its side as it cornered, but he did eventually get
his license when he was 18.
In 1958, Chris won a scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford. During the first 2 years he won the
whist championship, stage-managed 2 plays and drank much draught Guiness. The third year
was one of panic as he prepared for and succeeded in his final year, before a fourth year of
research to gain his Honours Degree.
Travelling with his family to South Africa at about this time, there was a very close encounter
with 2 large elephants iin the Kruger National Park in an unreliable car which did eventually start
just in time.
Chris eventually completed his D. Phil in chemistry on a studentship, and along the way
identified a number of new compounds and designed and produced specialized equipment for
the task.
Working life for Chris lead him to areas of industrial safety and design of specialized equipment
for the mining industry in Australia. He recounted several close calls with impending disaster.
Chris completed his working life chairing international committees working on Electrical
Standards for the IEC.
Chirstchurch NZ seemed an ideal place for retirement, but then there was an earthquake…. So
now Chris is in Hamilton.
Chris Simpson Guest Speaker
Chris