Ben’s wife, Georgie died of cancer in October 2020.  After 20 years in parish ministry in Oxford, she founded Oxford Centre for Spiritual Growth in 2009.  Ben helps run it, and to organise events.  It is hoped to move the administration and management of the Centre over to the team – led by City Rector and Vicar, Anthony Buckley – at St Michael at the North Gate, Oxford in the coming months.  It was there, with the support of the PCC and three successive vicars, that OCSG started.

Ben has written three books, the latest released in Dec 2021:

Collected Poems and Meanderings

Copies are currently available at the Church shop at St Michael at the North Gate, Oxford. Ben Simpson’s collection of poems and ‘meandering’ anecdotes takes us on a journey through his life and times, in a fascinating sequence, recounting contrasting scenes and experiences from his memories and from the world stage. Each passage is preceded by a brief introduction, linking one to the next, and creating a unique story-line that will amuse, challenge and give enjoyment to those who travel with him on that life’s journey. 

This book is well reviewed – ‘a thing of beauty’ – ‘food for any pilgrim and manna for the soul’ – ‘This is a book to treasure’ – ‘a tribute to the creative power of memory… fresh and vivid, sometimes sweet, sometimes unexpectedly sharp. Take, read, delight’…  

Click here to see the book launch.

Ben’s previous books: (both currently out of print):

The Generations In Between: the history of a remarkable family. This book is now out of print, but it records Ben’s family history, from his paternal roots in Westmoreland, where five generations farmed at Grayrigg, and their descendants, many of them Quakers, who moved into industries in the burgeoning towns of Manchester and Liverpool and London.  He tells of Brewers, Cotton Millers, Tea Importers, Abolitionists (his great grandfather sailed to America in 1865, spending 4 months investigating the problems of the freed slaves and their families, and much of his life fund-raising for their education and welfare.

Ben’s grandfather was an engineer, whose Horsehay Company was an offshoot of the Darby empire of Ironbridge, whose production included cast iron bridges and railtrack that was exported throughout the colonies and South America. Ben’s father joined the Metropolitan Police as a constable. He studied law and was called to the Bar at Grays Inn, but continued his Police career through various provincial forces, and died ‘in harness’ after 10 years as Sir Joseph Simpson KBE, Commissioner of the ‘Met’ in 1968. The book also recounts the history of his mother, a soprano who toured Germany in 1938, witnessing the rise of the Hitler Youth, and who later became a well-known breeder of Labrador dogs.

Ben Simpson farmed in Gloucestershire until 1979, and subsequently worked as an administrator at Wolfson College, Oxford for some 22 years.  He served as a magistrate in Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire for forty-two years and on Thames Valley Police Authority for twenty of those.  He was awarded the MBE in the 2010 New Year Honours.

Of Another Generation: reminiscences of my youth.  Published privately, this book recounts Ben’s upbringing in the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s in the post-war years.  He tells of his home and family, of their pigs, dogs, horses and goats; of his childhood in Northumberland and Surrey, and the escapades he and his brother got up to there; of his experiences in a priviliged schooling system with which he struggled; of his aspirations to go farming and of his uncoventional training in a formative year in Patagonia, and of how he eventually and unexpededly achieved his ambition.

Ben’s activities and interests:

Wolfson College, Oxford (1987 ongoing):

Ben retired (31/12/09) after 22 years on the College’s administrative staff where for the last couple of years he was responsible for Project Coordination. Previously he served as Development Officer and Head of ICT.  He was granted Membership of Common Room (honorary) on retirement.  He helped out occasionally at the College and elsewhere, with risk assessments and similar activities until the Covid pandemic lockdowns started.

Oxfordshire Probation Trust (Ongoing)

Committee Member and Trustee (formerly Chairman). The Trust makes small grants to people from Oxfordshire who are on probation, to help them rehabilitate, get jobs or make a new start in their communities after periods in custody or whilst on probation. Typical grants are for clothing or essential household equipment, or other items to help them prepare for employment. The Trust meets monthly and all referrals are through the Thames Valley Probation Service.

Other interests

Agriculture (my first career), building construction and estate maintenance (another career), community development and fund raising, travel, music, dogs, creative writing, poetry.

Past activities

Wandering in dementia – The Neighbourhood Return Project

Worked with Dr Rupert McShane and others on the development of a response network, to recover those with early dementia who ‘wander’ or ‘get lost’. The project has received a BIG Lottery award from the ‘Silver Dreams’ Fund to conduct trials and roll out the scheme in Thames Valley and elsewhere. The project used community messaging systems and Neighbourhood and Home Watch’s infrastructure to conduct searches in liaison with a Call Centre based in Dudley.

Thames Valley Police Authority (1992 – 2012)

Ceased membership on abolition of police authorities. Formerly Independent Member (Magistrate Member March 1992 – 2008) and at various times, member of Complaints and Professional Standards Committee, Resources Committees, PCC Transition Panel, Strategic Property Forum, Stop and Search Project Board, Local Criminal Justice Board, representative on the Oxford Safer Communities Partnership and member responsible for oversight of Oxford City Local Policing Area. Previously Co-vice Chairman of the Authority and Lead Member (People and HR), Chair of Property Committee and Lead Member (Police Performance) with membership of numerous committees and panels including the Appointments and Remuneration Committee and the Selection Panel for Independent Members of the Authority and its Standards Committee.

Magistrate (1971 – 2021)

Now ceased active roles on the Oxfordshire Bench and a member of the ‘Supplemental List’, formerly Oxford City and Coleford (Gloucestershire) Benches. Ben served on Juvenile / Youth and Family panels, on the former Fines Enforcement panel and the Probation Committees of these benches. He ‘celebrated’ his 40th year as a magistrate at a meeting of the Oxfordshire Bench ‘Quorum Club’ on 20/10/11.

St Margaret’s Institute Community Centre, Oxford

Former Chair of Management Committee and website manager for 14 years, stepping aside in August 2013. During his term of office the Community Centre secured its future through the acquisition of a 999-year lease and a refurbishment programme funded through a successful appeal.

Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust

Former Council Member and website manager from 2000 till August 2013. Throughout its life, this Trust has distributed over £3 million to Oxfordshire churches and chapels.

St Margaret’s Parish War Memorial Appeal

Member of a committee responsible for the restoration of this WW1 memorial which was in danger of collapse. The memorial is at the junction of St Margaret’s and Kingston Roads in North Oxford. Responsible for planning applications, fund raising and the appeal website which also links to its Companion Site at Headington.org where the history and background of the commemorated WW1 soldiers is documented. The resoration was completed in time for a re-dedication on 11/11/11.