Now living in Frome, Carpenter's fascination with fossils began in childhood in nearby Saltford, where discoveries of fossils in the garden of his family home sparked an interest that never left him.
Although he collected casually at first, a meeting with a fellow collector during his teenage years inspired him to take the hobby more seriously.
Over time, he has built up an extensive fossil collection that has contributed to scientific research and museum collections.
In 1994, Carpenter made one of the most significant discoveries of his fossil-hunting career when he uncovered the remains of a previously unknown species of pliosaur in a clay pit near Westbury, Wiltshire.
The spectacular fossil was later excavated by a team from Bristol Museums and the University of Bristol, donated to Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, and eventually named Pliosaurus carpenteri in his honour.
Today, the giant marine predator lives on in the form of "Doris", a life-sized model suspended from the ceiling of the museum, where it inspires thousands of visitors each year with the story of a discovery that helped advance scientific understanding of Jurassic sea life.
Carpenter pursued a career in medical illustration, earning a BA from the University of Liverpool in 1978 and an MA from the Central School of Art & Design in London in 1980. After moving to Bristol in the 90s, he went on to work in public health, while continuing to develop his interest in geology and fossil collecting.
A connection with the University of Bristol’s School of Earth Sciences began when Simon started taking evening classes.
“I used to go in early, and there was a technician in the Earth Sciences department whom I used to ask to leave the display cabinets open so I could go through the collections and learn”, said Carpenter. “You can’t do that today, but I was trusted.”
Over the next 30 years, Carpenter would go on to open his excavations to teams of volunteers, creating valuable opportunities for University of Bristol students to gain hands-on field experience, and has supported generations of Bristol students by offering research projects based on his discoveries.
As part of his career in public health, Carpenter was a passionate advocate for cycling and active travel. He also combined his interests in education and geology by spearheading the creation of geological information boards along the Bristol to Bath Railway Path, securing funding for the project and overseeing the design of the displays to help people better understand the region's geological history.
Professor Mike Benton, Professor of Vertebrate Palaeontology, said: “Simon Carpenter has been a great contributor to society in the South West of England, organising fossil digs, engaging with museums and the University, and raising funds for explanatory notice boards on popular travel routes. We are proud as a University to honour such a great citizen of the Bristol area.”
Deborah Hutchinson, Geology Curator, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, said: “It has been my pleasure to work alongside Simon Carpenter for many years. He not only has expert knowledge of the geology of the Bristol region, but his willingness to share his expertise makes his contribution to the subject even more special.
“He has found some truly incredible fossil specimens over the years, many of which Bristol Museum & Art Gallery are lucky enough to now care for, including Pliosaurus carpenteri – not everyone has their own pliosaur! Simon’s contribution to palaeontology is incredible, and his honorary doctorate is truly deserved.”
Reflecting on the honorary degree, Carpenter said: “It’s a great honour that came out of the blue. It’s great encouragement for people like me who collect and provide material for people to learn and study from.”