AW Brian Simpson

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I am sad to report that Professor Brian Simpson has passed away yesterday, 10 January 2011, at his home in Sandwich, Kent. He was possessed of a truly unique erudition, coupled with a superb wit and sense of humour; his scholarship never failed to impress. It is in particular his work as a legal historian which was without peer, making an impact even on courts dealing with oh-so-modern issues like detention in the ‘war on terror’; his magisterial In the Highest Degree Odious: Detention Without Trial in Wartime Britain (Clarendon Press, 1992) was cited both by the House of Lords and the US Supreme Court. And even on this sad occasion the first two pages of his Human Rights and the End of Empire (OUP, 2004) cannot but make me laugh out loud. Brian and his laughter will be sorely missed; our condolences go to his family.

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    Panos Koutrakos says

    January 13, 2011

    He was also an extraordinarily generous and inspiring man - those who have met him should consider themselves lucky.

    Ed Bates says

    January 16, 2011

    I would like to add a couple of lines in agreement with Marko and Panos. Professor Simpson was an extremely generous man; an example for us all to aspire to. I will remember him wih great fondness.
    Ed Bates, University of Southampton.

    Ed Bates says

    January 16, 2011

    There is an obituary to Professor Simpson on The Times on-line. It also has details of his funeral.
    See http://announcements.thetimes.co.uk/obituaries/timesonline-uk/obituary.aspx?n=a-w-brian-simpson&pid=147785829
    Ed Bates, Southampton