Jill Simpson, who has died aged 76, was an interpretation officer for Pembrokeshire Coast national park. She designed interpretation boards, created guided walks, and commissioned artwork that shaped how thousands of people interacted with the landscape, history, and biodiversity.
As a volunteer she helped establish Croeso Arberth, a community initiative that settled a Syrian refugee family in Pembrokeshire. In 2017 the group received Liberty’s More in Common award, established in memory of Jo Cox, the Labour MP killed in 2016. Simpson was herself active in the Labour party.
Early life and education
Born at New Moat Farm in Pembrokeshire, she was the daughter of Myrtle (nee Humphries) and Richard Simpson, farmers who met while serving in the British army. She attended several schools, mostly as a boarder at St Winifred’s convent in Swansea, then went to University College London, graduating with a psychology degree in 1972.
Career and activism
Simpson’s strong sense of social justice was shaped through early career: teaching science at Peckham Manor school in south-east London, then working at a women’s shelter, a legal firm, and Release, a charity supporting people with drug addiction. By the mid-1970s she had moved into protest squats on Villa Road in Brixton, south London. She helped document the movement as co-author of a chapter in the 1980 book Squatting: The Real Story, and featured in a 2006 documentary. During this time she met Nick Anning, and had a child.
The relationship ended in 1988, and Simpson moved back to west Wales, becoming a teacher at Nant-y-Cwm Steiner school. After studying for an environmental master’s degree in 2001, she realised she could work in environmental interpretation doing all of her favourite things: education, improving access to the countryside, connecting people to the natural world, and collaborating with a like-minded team.
Work at Pembrokeshire Coast
She started at Pembrokeshire Coast national park in 2011, working at Carew Castle and dressing in medieval costumes to bring the history of the castle to life for visitors. She became a ranger the following year, and led guided walks – her favourite was the Three Quays walk, where she brought the coal-mining history of the area to life and introduced people to the secret waterway.
As interpretation officer from later that year she played a key role in re-interpreting Castell Henllys iron age fort, and more recently helped revamp Carew Tidal Mill. She worked across all teams in the park and with countless community groups across Pembrokeshire.
Later years
In recent years, while living in Narbeth, Simpson served on the steering committee of the Cleddau Project, working with Welsh leaders and scientists to improve the health of the river; she volunteered at Clynfyw care farm, supporting adults with learning difficulties; and she raised thousands of pounds for refugees and people affected by conflict.
Simpson is survived by her child, Nick’s children from a previous relationship, Vicky and Simon, and her sister, Jane.
