He was now able to meet more regularly with his old university friend, Brian Williams, and in 2003, they decided to start working together. In 2001, after a nine-year stretch with an investment bank, Roderick was made redundant, something that he has since described as a blessing in disguise.

Here he worked in corporate finance, specializing in private equity transactions. For several years he wrote music and played in a number of bands, and also toyed with the idea of getting into films (he was employed briefly by George Harrison’s Handmade Films), but eventually ended up in the City. They became friends in the summer of 1980, and kept in touch until, some twenty-three years later, they finally began to cooperate on their writing.Īfter an unsuccessful attempt to transfer to medical school to train as a doctor, Roderick had graduated from University College Londonin 1983 without any idea of what career he wanted to follow. It was here that he met his future collaborator on the Tunnels series of books, Brian Williams, who was at the Slade School of Fine Art. He went on to public school at Oundle, and then attended University College, London, where he read biology (specializing in genetics). Chronically shy throughout his childhood, he sought refuge in drawing and writing, and whilst at the Hall School, Hampstead, he had his first short story published in the school magazine, at the age of twelve. Biography īorn in November 1960, Roderick grew up in Highgate, North London. Funeral arrangements by Lawson Funeral Home, 4532 Hwy 53, Hoschton, GA, 30548, 70.Roderick Gordon (born November 1960) is the author of Tunnels, a bestselling children's book and Summerhouse Land. A reception will follow in the Retreat Building at the church.

Interment will be held at Chapel Hills Memory Gardens, Jacksonville, FL. We are asking all that feel led to share “Gordon Stories” during the service to participate.

A Service of Remembrance will be held at 12:00 pm Monday, Jat New Liberty United Methodist Church. He is survived by his beloved wife Frances Simpkins and a host of relatives. Gordon’s memory will be held as precious in the hearts of his family, his many friends, and the countless lives he touched and impacted during his lifetime. Simpkins moved to Georgia a number of years ago but still had deep roots in Jacksonville, Florida. Gordon was a Mason and was an accomplished Saxophone player and a member of the Yargo Community Concert Band at Yargo State Park in Winder. Simpkins was a Sargeant Major in the US Army during the Korean War. Roderick Gordon Simpkins, age 91, of Hoschton and formerly of Jacksonville, FL passed away in his sleep early Thursday, June 13,, 2019.

Roderick gordon