A former minister of Dornoch Cathedral is about to release his eighth and final book comprising more anecdotes of wit and wisdom – 30 years on from his first publication.
Very Rev Dr James Simpson, who was minister there for 21 years, made it onto the Scottish bestseller list with his first title Holy Wit, which topped the list for four months.
The former moderator’s latest book, Uncommon Sense… and comic nonsense, will hit the bookshelves next Thursday.
Dr Simpson’s aim over the years has been to use humour to raise funds for cystic fibrosis research after his grand-daughter, Sally, was born with the illness in 1986. The condition affects the lungs and causes early death.
His granddaughter sadly died three years ago, aged just 27, after having a double lung transplant which extended her life for only two years.
She was a former captain of Tain Royal Academy, lead violinist with the Highland Youth Orchestra and attained a first class Honours degree from the University of Glasgow, where she also met her husband.
Dr Simpson said: “She was an amazingly brave girl who lived life to the full – a much-loved granddaughter.”
Royalties from Dr Simpson’s books, published by Steve Savage Publishers, have raised £75,000 for research into cystic fibrosis so far, and the proceeds from his new book will also go towards it.
In Uncommon Sense, Dr Simpson draws on his vast store of literary, cultural and humorous stories to help distinguish what matters most in life from what does not matter that much – the essential from the incidental.
It is a blend of seriousness and humour and is crammed with anecdotes about well known individuals such as Robert Burns, Martin Luther King, Emerson, Shakespeare, Lee Trevino and Arctic explorer Ejnar Mikkelson.
Dr Simpson, who is in his early 80s, says he is winding up his career as an author but will continue to serve as one of HM the Queen’s Chaplains in Scotland.
He now lives in Bankfoot, Perthshire, and a book launch event will be held at Bankfoot Church at 7pm on Sunday.
