The Rev Gordon David Jamieson died suddenly on Friday May 3, two days after the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination into the Schaw Kirk, Drongan, in the Presbytery of Ayr.

He then served at Elie, Kilconquhar and Colinsburgh, before moving to Dundee: Barnhill St Margaret’s. In March 2000, he was appointed as Head of Stewardship for the Church of Scotland, and retired in September 2012. That left him free to work and serve in a number of roles and charges across Edinburgh and West Lothian, while also serving as Depute Clerk in the Presbytery of West Lothian from October 2019. He was ViceConvener of the Board of Ministry from 1993 to 1995, and, as Convener of that Board, at the General Assembly of 1996, he presented its Report. When he retired Gordon became a member of Livingston Old – his first taste of being an ‘ordinary’ member of a congregation, as an adult, but not for long, because he soon took on the role of treasurer, along with other duties – as he had to be ‘extraordinary’”.

He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Edinburgh in June 1973 after studying Arts and Divinity at Edinburgh University, and served as Student Assistant at Edinburgh: Tron Moredun, before his first ministry in Ayrshire. He was married to Annette in 1969 at Edinburgh: St Andrew’s Muirhouse.

In prayers in 121 George Street, his singing voice was to the fore, and this was the case wherever Gordon was in the congregation. He was passionate about good order and on occasion single-minded about doing things in the right way. He was pastoral and a great encourager and enabler of the staff in the Stewardship Team in the Church Offices, and totally committed to the Church of Scotland and its ministry.

Gordon was a larger than life character, with a good sense of humour, a wry smile, a twinkle in his eye, and a dry wit. Along with a passion for crime fiction, he liked to travel. He was someone for whom friends and family were important too – our prayers are with his wife, Annette, and their children, Elspeth and Andrew, and five grandchildren.

Gordon David Jamieson, Minister of the Gospel, March 1 1949 to May 3 2024.

Angus R Mathieson (Rev)

The Very Rev Dr James Simpson, a former Moderator of the General Assembly and Royal Chaplain, died on May 30, aged 90.

Regarded as one of the Kirk’s most distinguished ministers, Glasgow-born Dr Simpson served Dornoch Cathedral in Sutherland for more than 20 years.

Born in Glasgow in March 1934, Dr Simpson’s first degree was in mathematics and physics, and he contemplated a career in atomic research before deciding to enter the ministry. He studied and trained in Glasgow, and following a spell at the Union Theological Seminary in the USA in 19589 he served at Falkirk Grahamston and St John’s Renfield in Glasgow before he was called to Dornoch Cathedral in 1976.

When he was appointed Moderator in 1994, he became the first from a Highland parish in nearly 20 years. It did, however, cut short his two-year term as captain of the Royal Dornoch Golf Club. A keen and low-handicap golfer, he had also been appointed chaplain of the Ryder Cup at the Belfry in 1993.

Dr Simpson was renowned as a popular after dinner speaker and best-selling author. His first book, Holy Wit, first published in 1986, topped Scotland’s book charts for months, and he went on to publish a further 13 books. The proceeds from his books raised more than £80,000 for research into cystic fibrosis, a condition which affected his first granddaughter, Sally. Sally died in 2013, aged 27.

He is survived by his wife Helen, their five children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. * From the Editor: Jim was a huge advocate and supporter of Life and Work, serving on the Life and Work Advisory Committee for many years. He gifted magazine subscriptions to friends and encouraged all to read the magazine. He was a long-time columnist – the longest serving during my time as the guardian of Life and Work and his writing regularly provoked debate and many letters to the editor. He would pop in to visit not just the magazine team, but his many friends around the church offices of 121 George Street.

His humour was appreciated by many – the sales of his many books were testament to his popularity. Nothing was ever too much trouble – a request to contribute additional pieces for Life and Work’s website or the magazine itself would result in perfect prose landing in the in-box well before any deadline.

He was always encouraging and full of good humour and a regular correspondent – in touch only a few weeks before his death. Most importantly, he was full of kindness and goodwill to all, unafraid to speak up for those he supported, but always prepared to listen and offer (when sought) wise words and counsel.

It is difficult to capture the essence and influence of a person in so few words, but the best description of Jim is he exemplified the Christian example of a life well lived.