[1] Gibson was born in 1929, to Scottish father William, a private in the Royal Scots Greys, and York native Mary.

He left in 1945, when he was invited by Eric Milner-White, then-Dean of York, to begin an apprenticeship in the Minster workshops.

[1] Gibson's likeness is seen in a restored Tree of Jesse window in the Minster's nave.

While it was being repaired in 1950, workers discovered the likeness of Jesse was missing, so an artist was commissioned to paint a new figure.

In 1979, he was made a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, and became a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Glaziers a decade later.

[1] In 2010, he was given honorary Freedom of York in recognition of his lifetime of service to the city's historical features.