His cousin was the golfer James Braid. As a boy, Simpson was the favourite caddy of Sir Alexander Grant, principal of the University of Edinburgh, and a regular at the Elie Golf Club course in Earlsferry, where Simpson grew up.
Simpson's cousin was the renowned golfer James Braid. During his youth, he served as the caddie for Sir Alexander Grant, the principal of the University of Edinburgh, at the Elie Golf Club in Earlsferry, where Simpson had grown up.