Goodbye Dear Friend, Doug Hampson

Yesterday I said goodbye to my great Friend and Mentor, Doug Hampson.?

Doug passed away earlier this year, but yesterday I had the (uneasy) pleasure of attending a gathering of his family, friends, business partners, co-workers and everyone who cared about him, to celebrate his life and memory.

The gathering was huge - because there were so many people who Doug touched, helped and who cared about him throughout his incredible life of service, kindness and generosity. The house was buzzing with shared stories, and everyone without an exception was saying what a great privilege and blessing it was to have known Doug.

I thought I’d write a few things to commemorate this Great Person, who had so much positive influence on my life, who taught and helped me so much, and who was a great business partner and companion.

Doug was extraordinary, in a way that I find truly inspiring, because he was an example of a benevolent and accomplished person we can all become. He wasn’t a superhero, royalty, politician or a billionaire - someone to put on a pedestal, celebrate, and watch from afar, that we can only dream of becoming.?

He was a very bright person, for sure, but he was an ordinary man, who chose to apply himself to everything he did, be kind and generous to others, and who deeply cared about people. This made him special, but only because most people (like me) are not quite there yet, but with the right effort and determination we all could become like him. And the world would be a truly better place if we did.

Doug had many great adventures. He almost single-handedly invented the ROV (remotely operated underwater robots) industry, and stayed on top of it for many years. His company OSEL designed and built submarines and ROVs for many marine applications, including offshore oil & gas. One of his creations - a bathyscaphe - starred in a James Bond movie Octopussy. It was one of the coolest James Bond gadgets ever.

At this time Doug received the Queen’s Award for Innovation in Enterprise. In a typical way for him, he forgot where he put the statuette and lost it when he was moving to Wales. He never seemed to be bothered about it.

Which reminds me of a picture I accidentally found in one of his books (Doug loved to read) in his office. This was a picture of Buzz Aldrin - the second man on the moon - and my lifetime hero. On the back of this picture was not a simple autograph, or a dedication, but a long and personal note, thanking Doug for his friendship and help in the difficult times that the Hero Astronaut went through. Doug never said how he helped Buzz Aldrin, and simply commented “Oh, there is this picture. I completely forgot about it.”

Despite being a self-made millionaire, Doug never changed to become uncaring, cold, and snarky towards others. This served him well after his company got in trouble in the energy crisis during the Margaret Thatcher government, when he lost many millions and had to sell his company to a competitor.

After this, Doug decided to devote himself to the service of others, using his unique skills and knowledge. He moved to Wales and became the Head of the Wales Development Agency. As a matter of fact, the Agency was based in the building I am sitting in writing these words now, which today is known as the Cardiff Business Innovation Centre. He spent many years in his office here, running programmes supporting Welsh start-ups and entrepreneurs.?

I met Doug when he was working at the spin-out office, or Commercialisation Office, of the University of South Wales. I just finished my PhD and wanted to commercialise the software I developed for tracking assets at sea. Doug helped me raise VC investment from Finance Wales, and agreed to help me by becoming a Chairman and Director of my company, GeoVS.?

Together we travelled to several countries, client meetings and locations across the UK. Doug contributed to many key decisions, not only for the business, but also in technical aspects of the software we were developing. I remember how I was stuck on a very complex technical problem that I struggled to solve for weeks. One day, thanks to a brilliant suggestion from Doug, it all became easy and a solution was ready the same day.?

Doug was a man of many talents and interests. He was a kart racing driver. He collected driftwood and made art pieces from it. He was also a Shakespearean actor, and he had a fantastic voice, deep and full of confidence. I asked him to record voice overs for our promotional videos, and they were perfect. I am sure they contributed greatly to our success.?

Doug was very generous and trusting of people. When my wife and I wanted to buy a house in 2010, the bank would not lend us enough because I was a pure student who just graduated, and only started his company, and my wife wasn’t making enough money in her job at the BBC. Doug rescued us by taking a loan with his bank and lending us ￡50,000 - with nothing but my word that I would pay it back as security. (We did pay it off in case you are wondering).?

Without him we would not have been able to get the house we are still living in. Not only that, he also gave us a very nice bed and helped us move in. To this day I remember how he was helping me carry an extremely heavy mattress (one of the most comfortable ever made) upstairs, and we barely made it. He must have been close to 70 years old back then, but nothing would stop him from giving the help that was needed.?

For many years after, we were calling one of the bedrooms upstairs the ‘Doug’s room’, to honour Doug’s help.

Doug loved nature, food, and family. He organised many great picnics and meetings outdoors, or in his house, and also invited us to his second house in France in the summer. Many of my other business partners never even invited us to their houses, so we considered Doug and his lovely wife Marilyn very un-British in their hospitality.?

Doug was also fun, and sometimes goofy in the most hilarious way, which made for some unforgettable moments. One time when we had a visit from an investor from Australia (John), Doug decided to invite him to a pub near the airport for a farewell lunch before John took his return flight. He chose a pub he allegedly knew well, the ‘Three Horseshoes’.?

Doug went in his car, and I gave John a ride to the pub. After getting there we started waiting, and waiting and waiting for Doug. At some point when we were not sure if John would have enough time to order his lunch and eat before missing his flight, my phone buzzed and it was Doug. I picked up hoping to hear an update on Doug’s whereabouts, but immediately heard a thump and then just the road and engine noise. A few moments later I heard a faint voice of Doug lowering his window and asking someone on the street “Excuse me, do you happen to know where the pub ‘Three Horseshoes’ is?”?

I told John and we laughed. When Doug finally joined us it turned out that he tried to call me, but his phone dropped into the gap between the door and his seat. Luckily we all managed to eat (quickly) and John made it to his flight on time.?

Doug never found out that I nominated him for his second Queen’s Award - unfortunately unsuccessfully. This was because at that time Doug was about to retire from the University spin-out Commercialisation Office, and the Award was meant to only promote work of active people. Little did they know that Doug would remain active for many years after, helping several start-ups on their way to success until just days before his premature death.?

Doug was very brave, and never complained. When he got sick with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) his health drastically deteriorated. He started having problems with moving, eating, talking and breathing. But he never lost his great sense of humour and never became bitter. When I saw him for the last time, a few weeks before his death, he looked thinner, smaller, and could only move a few fingers (which he used to write company emails and LinkedIn messages on a screen attached to his Stephen Hawking-esque chair). But he still had the same lively sparks, joy and kindness in his eyes.?

Doug had a big heart, and loved his wife, family, daughters, and grandchildren. He was kind to his friends, and strangers alike. He was also a supporter, Chairman and Director of several charities, among others educating underprivileged children, and helping homeless people.

Doug was a complete human. He had strengths and weaknesses, better and worse days, like all of us. But he never lost his integrity, and was dependable like a rock. He always thought of finding ways of helping others, making introductions and generously offering his time, energy and wisdom - fortified with a heartfelt encouragement and faith in the person’s ability to achieve his or her dreams.?

My family, business and I would not have been who and where we are today without Doug. And at the gathering yesterday I saw many people who would say the very same thing.?

The admiration of his friends and family, and the number of people who he touched and helped along his way,? is the best testament to Doug’s extraordinary life and character.

Thank you for everything Doug, I’m gonna miss you dearly!?

Wherever you are and whatever comes next, I’m consoled by my unshakeable conviction that you are making it a better place.?

May you be well!

Love,

Rafal

Doug in his natural habitat, with his granddaughters