The obituary notice of Vic SIMPSON

Jane and family, I was so sorry to hear just this week of Vic's death .... I remember with great joy your wedding in Kenya which was such fun. I understand you will be visiting Wales soon, and it would be lovely to say 'hello'. Lyn Harper

Vic was a great inspiration to me throughout my early career in wildlife veterinary medicine and I feel privileged to have learnt all I know about wildlife post-mortem work from him. More importantly, though Vic was a beautiful person. Thank you Vic.
And my very best wishes to your family and friends.

As new wildlife veterinarian it was very inspiring for me to meet Vic two years ago at the EWDA Conference in Berlin and hear about his amazing career in this field. In addition to being a pioneering vet he was also an absolutely wonderful person who took the time to speak to everybody in person. He will be greatly missed.

Helle B. Hydeskov
Institute of Zoology/Zoological Society of London and Royal Veterinary College

Dear Jane and family,
It was such a shock to hear this news...Vic has always seemed 'evergreen' over the years I have known him.
His humour and knowledge has illuminated so many lives. The time we worked together was brief but such a privilege and is fondly remembered. Much of what I learnt, his meticulous technique and analytical approach, has been deployed in my career ever since. No-one has had a more positive influence on my approach to veterinary work than Vic. I hope I found time to thank him.
There are not many who can be both forthright and universally liked and respected, as he was, and still fewer who have achieved so much in the cause of understanding and conserving our precious wildlife.

He will be so missed. My thoughts are with you all.
Phill Elliott

Dear Jane

We are writing this from Kenya. We remember so well when you and Vic visited us here, at our home at Kabete, in the early 1970s.

We are very sorry to hear of Vic's death. He contributed so much to tropical veterinary medicine and wildlife pathology.

We also want to pay special tribute to you for all you did to support Vic and his work. In that vein, we were delighted to see that the

Wildlife Disease Association (WDA),in its tribute to Vic, features a photograph of both of you - looking very happy.

We are thinking of you at this time, please let us know if we can help in any way.

Our very best wishes

John and Margaret Cooper ngagi2@gmail.com

Dear Jane and family,
It is in great sadness that we write. We had so much hoped to welcome You at our Little place that You helped to create. we both feel extremely honoured and thankful for the great gift of having known both of You and benefit from Your kindness and spirit in addition to Vic's great knowledge. We can onlyhope to live up to the tiniest part of what You gave to us and showed us with Your examples. We will miss Vic dearly and will always regret to not have insisted more on having You around while there was time for it and for allowing us to give You a treat. You will always be welcom, whenever You want to visit our eagles, and to talk about so many things..It is unfair that always the best are called earlier, but I suppose that this is just the reason for it; they are too good for this world. In sadness and with our thoughts going to You from the deepest of our hearts, Ursula Höfle and Juan Manuel Blanco

Vic was a huge influence on wildlife pathology and disease investigation in the UK and Europe in recent years. His legacy in training and mentoring younger vets has been immense, and we and many other vets, wildlife disease investigators and others of all ages have benefited enormously from his friendship, generously-shared wisdom and support in all sorts of ways over the years. He was an exemplary practitioner of the art and science of post mortem examination, making the most of every nugget of information, and as a result generating numerous fascinating discoveries and documenting important findings which he delighted in sharing in his many beautifully-illustrated talks and publications. Vic as a joy to be with, thanks to his wit and enthusiasm, his interesting anecdotes of a varied earlier career, and the interest he took in the lives and work of others. We will all miss him in both our daily work with wildlife and as part of the wider veterinary community.

Our sincerest sympathy to Jane and all Vic’s family, from everyone at International Zoo Veterinary Group

From Rosine and Marc Artois:
More than simply a colleague, was a friend,a mentor, a leader... we are going to miss him. Jane we keep a place for you in our heart and a room in our house where you will be always welcommed. Marc & Rosine