John Simpson was a force to be reckoned with, a passionate collaborator and true pioneer of the theatre industry. Chair of Backup from 2016 to 2022, John improved the lives of many through his hard work and tireless dedication to the entertainment industry. 

The Backup trustees are gratefully announcing that this dedication has continued after his death with a remarkably generous legacy bequeathed to Backup. Through this gift, John has enabled Backup to move forward confidently into 2025 and far beyond, safe in the knowledge that technicians in need will continue to be supported.

John’s generosity will also enable more training to take place, furthering the reach of Backup’s support network and bettering the lives of even more people throughout the industry and beyond.

Plan for the Future

If you would like to leave a gift for Backup in your will, there are a few ways of going about it. Legacy gifts are incorporated into your will, either at the time of writing, or added after by using a Codicil form. The gift can be in the form of a specific donation amount or a percentage of your estate.

About John Simpson

John worked tirelessly for over 50 years in the theatre and entertainment industry. His interest was formed at an early age when he joined his mother at the local amateur dramatics society, but he never thought it could sustain a career, so he tried a few different careers before settling into theatre and co-founding White Light. He was Chairman of the Motley Theatre Design Course for decades and his charitable work expanded with Light Relief, which evolved in the early 2000s into the charity we now know as Backup. With this Legacy donation, John Simpson is making a final gift, the effects of which will be felt for years to come.