The RFU was saddened to hear of the death on Saturday April 17th of past President John Rowton Simpson.

John Simpson, who died aged 77 after a long battle against cancer, was President of the RFU in 1988-1989, when Will Carling took over captaincy of an England team who beat Australia 28-19. A guiding light in Leicestershire rugby, he was Honorary Secretary from 1959-1978, President of Leicestershire from 1979-1981 and was invited to be President for their centenary year of 1986-1987. Chairman of the Midland Division from 1983-1985, his club was Westleigh RFC, which amalgamated with Wigston to become Leicester Lions and he also played for Leicester Thursday RFC.

On leaving Rugby School, he enlisted as a Coldstream Guardsman, later commissioned into the Gordon Highlanders in Aberdeen, where he played rugby for the Depot and for Gordonians. He became Officer in Charge of Mortar Platoon and, returning to England from the Far East in 1947, went to Magdalene College, Cambridge, to read Law. He later joined S Battery 350 (South Notts Hussars) Heavy Regiment of the TA, which as 115 Field Regiment RA during the war was commanded by his father.

In 1956, he became OC of the Battery. Promoted to Major in 1957 he received the Territorial Decoration. He continued to serve with the TA and was a member of East Midlands TA Association from 1954 until 1995 and Chairman of the Cadet Committee from 1985-1990. In 1972, he was made a Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Leicestershire.

A keen golfer with a handicap of seven, he was a practicing solicitor and the eldest of three brothers, all of whom followed the family tradition of being lawyers.