David SCOTT-ATKINSON

SCOTT-ATKINSON, David
David John Malcolm Scott Atkinson (1920-2004) died peacefully on the evening of October 25th in Simcoe, Ontario after a long illness. He was born in London, England and attended St.Paul's School, where he was a distinguished competitive swimmer. His plans to attend university were interrupted by the war. He served in the Egyptian campaign and was made a POW in Tobruk. He was held first in Italy, where he famously confused the guards with an imaginary camp-wide golf tournament and then in Germany, where he learned to play bridge and wrote camp musicals. After the war he worked briefly as a journalist before moving to the Conservative Party Central Office. He managed the election campaigns of Maurice MacMillan, son of the future prime minister. In the 50's he emigrated to Canada and worked in public relations, eventually setting up his own and very successful business, Scott-Atkinson Only. Always an eccentric, at one time he had his shirts laundered at the Savoy Hotel in London. He was noted for his impeccable dress, but wore sandals even in the depths of winter. He wrote countless columns for Marketing Magazine and the Mississauga News, through which he spearheaded the drive for Sunday shopping in Ontario. With Peter Swan, in the early 70's he founded a Lunch Club, still running, for which the key rule was that members bring an interesting guest. David was the last Scott-Atkinson, but was much loved by his step-children Michael Hunter, Melissa Napier-Andrews and Melanie Randall, his six grand- children and one great-grandson. He is survived by his wife, Margaret.
Arrangements for a celebration of his life are currently being made.