George Simpson, 1880–1952. Born in Dunedin, Simpson was a son of a master-builder of that city. After school days he entered the business of his father in one of the oldest and largest building concerns of the country. Later he succeeded to the control and his profession led him to gain a considerable knowledge of the timbers of indigenous trees and of forestry. His ability and knowledge were soon recognized by a large circle with kindred interests. To his business acquaintances he was perhaps best known as an outstanding valuer. As a Crown Valuer he assessed values during the period of the operation of the Land Sales Act. He carried out his duties strenuously and resolutely, making his decisions without fear or favour. With his life-long friend, the late John Scott Thomson, he shared a love of the open and of the garden. From their many trips into the field they brought back numerous treasures, and their gardens soon became well-known for the interest and variety of the indigenous plants they grew. The technical knowledge they gained of methods of cultivation was gladly shared with all interested. It was natural that they should seek a deeper knowledge of the plants themselves, apart from their aesthetic value; they became interested in ecological and taxonomic botany. It was equally natural that they should fall under the influence of the late Leonard Cockayne, one always eagerly on the look out for recruits to his beloved science. To them Cockayne always affectionately referred as “The Firm,” and indeed the intimate association of the two is reflected in all their horticultural and botanical work. Papers were always published jointly. Both were good photographers, and brought the camera to the aid of their work. Lectures and public talks would always be illustrated by remarkably good lantern slides. Both saw the need to make taxonomic work a matter of field and garden study, not merely a matter of herbarium specimens. Their expeditions covered a great part of the southern areas of the South Island, later to be extended to excursions throughout the island. Those privileged to join in any of these adventures soon learned to enjoy and profit by their open-heartedness, their fund of humour and bonhomie. Nights in the camp after a day's hard work live in our memories. A fitting award was that of the Loder Cup, in 1935, for they did very much towards the “protection and cultivation of the incomparable flora of the Dominion.” Simpson gave full service to the administrative side of science as a life member of the Otago Branch of our Society. He was a member of its Council from 1927–1940, 1943–1946, 1951–1953; President in 1931; Vice-President in 1936 and 1932. He represented his branch on our Council in 1939–1940, and was a member of the Management Committee of the Otago Museum for a number of years. Nor were Simpson's interests and activities confined to a narrow range. His unspoken motto was: “Where I can help, there I shall help.” He was a member of the Dunedin Amenities Society for many and President for several years. A popular Rotarian, his help to that organisation was given unobtrusively and effectively. Generous to a fault, his right hand did not know what his left was doing. He, with his friend, was elected a member of the New Zealand Alpine Club in 1909. Not a mountaineer in the strict sense, he had a clear head and a good