OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 74, 25 September 1945, Page 9

OBITUARY

MR. J. L. (LEN) SIMPSON

The death occurred yesterday of Mr. John Lindsay (Len) Simpson, one of New Zealand's most noted Rugby football referees, and widely known throughout the country as a representative for many years of the Kaiapoi Woollen . Manufacturing Company. Ltd. He had been living in retirement in Wellington for some time, and in recent years had not enjoyed the best of health.

A son of ihe late Mr. and Mrs. John Simpson, of Merivale. Len Simpson was born in Christchurch: 66 years ago, and it was there, in his. school days, that he developed an interest in Rugby which T:d to his gaining the highest honours in the game as a referee. Much of his refereeing was done while he

w°.s a member of the Wellington Rugby Referees' Association, and upon his retirement he had built up an outstanding record, which included the controlling of international, interprovincial, and other important matches. He always acknowledged that the matches which he enjoyed most as a referee were those in which college teams participated. As a member of the official party which travelled with the 1924 New Zealand Rugby team, Mr. Simpson furnished special reports on the tour to "The Post." He had seen Rugby played in many lands. One of his last trips abroad was to Japan. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, but had little association with other organisations except for his keen interest in football, which he served long and well.

Mr. Simpson, who was not married, is sc**vived by two brothers (one in Australia and the other in England). The funeral takes place tomorrow morning.