April 22, 2009

The 78th Highlanders' have a lost a great friend and supporter today as Honouary Colonel Alec Nocton Simpson passed away April 22, 2009 in his 90th year at University Hospital in London, Ontario.  He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Margaret Elizabeth "Peggy"; and his brother, Cyril. 

Alec was born in Stretford, Lancashire, England, in 1920 and was educated at Stretford Grammar School.  He joined the British Territorial Army and was on active service from 1939-1946 in the United Kingdom, Southeast Asia, and Germany.  In 1947, he joined the Pursers' Department of the Cunard Line and served on board many of their ships, including the Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mary.  Alec and Peggy were married in 1948 and resided in England for a year, after which he accepted a posting to the Montreal office of the company.  They resided in Montreal from 1950-1975, when Alec took early retirement from his position as Vice-president of Passenger Sales in Canada. 

After the cessation of Cunard's service to Canada, Alec joined New World Education Cruises as General Manager and retired to accept an appointment to coordinate and activate a new program of cooperation between the Atlantic provinces and the Canadian government Office of Tourism.  Well-known and respected throughout the tourism industry, Alec was coordinator of the Atlantic Canada Tourism Marketing Program until he joined the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, retiring in 1985. 

Alec was actively engaged in several volunteer activities, including the organization and participation of Nova Scotia in the International Gathering of the Clans.  The essential part of his working life involved tourism.  He traveled far and wide representing Nova Scotia and the Atlantic provinces.  Always interested in maintaining his contacts and interest in the military, Alec was an Associate Member of RA Park Officers Mess and a founding Director of the Halifax Citadel Regimental Association, spending much of his retired life at the Citadel in Halifax, especially with the 78th Highlanders of which he was the Honourary Colonel.  Alec was president of the Montreal branch of Skål Club International in 1970 and a member of the Skål Club in Halifax.  He was also a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Vimy Branch in London, ON.  He is survived by his loving daughter, Anne Elizabeth; and son, William Stewart (Tracy), of Ontario.  Also survived by his nephews, John, Alec, and James in England.

Donations in Alec's memory can be made to the HCRA care of the Administrative Officer at PO Box 9080, Station A, Halifax, NS, B3K 5M7.