Hilda Marjorie Simpson

Hilda Marjorie Simpson, OBE, FRCN (14 January 1914 – 24 January 1992) was a pioneer in nursing research and founder of the Royal College of Nursing Research Society.

Education and early career Simpson attended Cheltenham Ladies' College before training as a nurse at St Thomas' Hospital, registering in 1932. She worked in St Thomas' Hospital Ophthalmic Department before training as a midwife (1938) and industrial nurse (1938-1939).

Wartime and move to the Royal College of Nursing In 1939 on the outbreak of World War II, Simpson was called up to serve in France and then Northern Ireland as a Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps Reserve (QUAIRMSR). and remaining for the next 18 years. From 1952 to 1955 Simpson studied for a sociology degree at the London School of Economics before returning to her role at the Royal College of Nursing. In 1960 Simpson was appointed as Research Officer at the Royal College of Nursing where she oversaw the creation of the RCN Research Society. Simpson's advocacy for nurse researchers was hugely influential and cited as such by nursing leaders such as Jean McFarlane, Baroness McFarlane of Llandaff, Winifred Raphael, Lisbeth Hockey and Dorothy MacBride Radwanski, amongst others.

Later career In 1963 Simpson was appointed as Nursing Research Officer to the Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS), promoted in 1973 to Principal Nursing Officer, In 1976 Simpson was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Nursing FRCN.

Death Simpson died on 24 January 1992, in Pinner, Middlesex.