Colin Simpson, bridge champion and Special Branch detective obituary
Colin Simpson, who has died aged 69, was a champion bridge player; earlier, as a detective with the Metropolitan Police Special Branch, he came to the assistance of Shlomo Argov, the Israeli ambassador to London, during an assassination attempt in 1982 which precipitated Israel’s invasion of Lebanon three days later.
On June 3 1982 Argov was leaving a dinner for diplomats organised by the banknote printing company De la Rue at the Dorchester Hotel in Park Lane, accompanied by Simpson, when he was shot and severely injured by a gunman from Abu Nidal’s organisation, a splinter group of the Palestine Liberation Organisation. Simpson chased the assailant on foot and was shot at, although the bullet missed. A witness described how Simpson “fired and shot the assassin in the head”.
Argov never recovered and died in 2003, while Simpson received a commendation and a £100 reward for his bravery. He was back on duty the next day, later pointing out that no counselling was available in those days. Three men were jailed for the attack.
Nine years earlier, Simpson’s skills at bridge had meant that he was chosen to work undercover at the Acol Bridge Club in West Hampstead, investigating allegations of an illegal poker game. He duly received an invitation to play and on his evidence a warrant was issued and a late-night game was raided.
Colin John Simpson was born on December 9 1948 at Harlington, Middlesex, the son of John Simpson, an art teacher, and his wife Doris; his grandparents kept a small farm on what is now the site of a Heathrow hotel, where for three years running they won a trophy for rearing the largest pig in the county.
The family moved to Scotland when Colin was 10 and he was educated at Dunfermline High School, where he was taught bridge by a maths teacher. He read Physics at Strathclyde University, although recalled not learning much “apart from playing bridge”.
He played rugby at university and for the police, and enjoyed golf in later years. During his police career Simpson acted as personal protection officer for many high-profile politicians, including William Whitelaw.
Although a highly competent rubber bridge player, his work meant that he had little time for representative bridge until after his retirement in 2002.
His greatest achievements came with the England Seniors team. They won the 2009 D’Orsi bowl at the World Championships in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and the Seniors event at the 2014 European Championships in Opatija, Croatia. He also won the Camrose trophy and the Teltscher trophy, formally known as the “Senior Camrose”. Domestic wins included Crockfords, Premier League, the Spring Foursomes and the Tollemache.
On one occasion in 1997 Simpson and his team had qualified to play in the final stages of the Gold Cup in Peebles. He and his wife arrived in Scotland a few days early to play golf and visit relatives. The rest of the team were not due to join him until the morning of the match, but a fire at Heathrow resulted in its closure and a hasty rebooking for them on a flight from Gatwick.
Meanwhile, Simpson received word that they were not on the flight and started his journey home. A few hours later his team-mates arrived in Peebles only to find themselves a player short.
Simpson was a great motivator. In the 2004 European Championships in Malmo, the England open team was below average after the first week. Near the venue’s entrance was a stuffed moose, which he persuaded his team-mates Tom Townsend and David Gold to touch for luck before every match in the second week. They rose to fifth place, enough to qualify for the Bermuda Bowl.
He is survived by Juliana Aimee Marguerite, his wife of 42 years.
Colin Simpson, born December 9 1948, died March 18 2018
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