Raymond Simmonds (9 Feb 1934 - 18 Sep 2022)

In loving memory of Raymond Simmonds who sadly passed away on 18th September 2022

Raymond Ronald Simmonds

Raymond Ronald Simmonds born 9/2/34 at 3 Oaktree Road, Bitterne Park eldest son to Ronald and Florence, Sister Janice and brother Eric born later. Always a worker, as a young man helped his dad with his business of painter and decorator. Then started an apprenticeship as a baker at Lowmans in Portswood were he meet his love of his life Sue. She was working as decorating the small cakes icing on the buns and vanilla slices. There they meet Barb and her boyfriend Ernie staying good friends for the rest of their life’s
Then Ray was called up to do his national service for two years, where he was stationed at Aldershot and put to good use in the catering corps as a baker, promoted to an instructor, teaching other recruits bakery skills, earning him a promotion to Lance Corporal. Ray & Sue kept in contact by letters and he came back to Southampton when he could afford it sometimes hitching for a ride back. When he finished his time in service they got married in Southampton 8th September 1956 both families celebrating this wonderful couple
An opportunity for the both of them sent them to Pinner in London to work together at Pheasants Bakery, living above the shop. Their first home and both were very excited. They made good lifelong friends Jack & Dorothy, who later became godparents to Ray & Sue’s two children. But money was tight trying to save for their own home and Ray always a worker took on more jobs, a delivery driver in the afternoons and taxi driver in the evenings as well as the baker in the morning. As a new wife Sue was away from her family and friends, Ray working all hours they decided to move back to Southampton, buying a bungalow at Sarisbury Green. Both got their jobs back at Lowmans in Portswood, Sue now in the cake decorating department. Meeting up with Barb & Ernie who were now married as well. Barb was the first to get pregnant, but Sue followed shortly after, Ray & Sue couldn’t be happier when their first baby girl Angela was born 8 April 1963
A move to Dimond Road Bittern Park, after his dad Ron died to be near his mum, a bigger house, new job for Ray at Chandlers Ford and Sue at home with Angela, started making cakes for birthdays, weddings and Christmas. Happy and settled Cheryl was born in August 1970 to make the family complete. Around this time Ray had moved jobs to Ford Motor Company, getting there on his moped working two weeks days, then nights, Angie remembers having to keep quiet as Dad was asleep upstairs after working all night.
In 1971 they bought a caravan for family holidays and joined the West Hampshire Caravan Club. Weekends away became the norm, loving the time away, meeting new people and making new good friends. With help from Doreen and Colin and daughter Debbie running weekend rallies: Strawberry Rally at Locks Heath, who could forget Ray dressing up as a pregnant woman, to open the fate? Activity Rally at Fairthorne Manor, making & cooking hundreds of pancakes outside for everyone Saturday evening and the Bonfire Rally at Holmsley and many, many more. Then in 1975 both families run a holiday rally in Bognor Regis for two weeks getting help from friends Eddie & Iris, Ron & Hazel, Pam & Mike and Steph & Rhona. The caravanning took the family further afield as well, going to Brittany for a month in 1977 camping on the beach and meeting up with their French friends Yvon & Maggie Tison with their son Lionel. In later years going to the south of France with friends Ed & Iris, Pam & Mike and Steph & Rhona. The traditional Caravan Club Carol service started by Ray & sue in 1977 at the mission of seaman with Steph Roberts taking the service, with reading from the bible spoken by friends & family. The best part of the evening-the mince pies made by Ray & Sue in the bar after. They carried on this service for 36 years with everyone loving the mince pies.
All the family was very important to Ray, after his dad died, Christmas was a main event at Dimond Road, family & friends enjoying all the lovely cooked food. Both his and Sues mum staying overnight joined by his sister Janice & husband Bill and his brother Eric &his wife Anne. This tradition carried on at Angie’s & Kevin in 1994 at James Grieve Avenue with Ray still baking the sausage rolls and profiteroles and helping with the black forest gateau.
Ray was made up that he walked down the aisle with both of his daughters Angie & Kevin in 1983 and Cheryl & Miles in 1987. Grandchildren were a great source of pleasure, Cheryl’s children Rosie, Ruby and Scarlet and Angie’s child Declan all grew up loving their Grandad
Ray retired from Ford Motor company in 1992 but didn’t slow down, working with Ron Webb painting & decorating and with Ed & Kevin working as an electrician’s mate. He also made time to go on holiday, enjoying a couple of cruises with his friends, and visiting Fuengirola in Spain with his sister Janice.
Ray & Sue loved joining Kevin, Angie & Declan on their American holidays, the first one to see the joy in a two year old Grandson to see Mickey Mouse and all his friends and the second eight years later to do it all again with the highlight of swimming with dolphins at Discovery Cove.
Ray & Sue moved to 6 Coombedale Locks Heath in 1997 wanting to move closer to Kevin & Angie and to have less work of a smaller house, but he then started working to transform their home, decorating throughout, adding a conservatory, and changing the garden, taking down trees and building a raised flower bed.
There were regular trips to Kent to see Cheryl, Gary and their family and to help on the farm, first there was eggs, then later on cherries and greengages. Tomatoes and cucumbers in the Polytunnels always wanting to be pruned, watered, and then picked. There were visits when the grandchildren were born, Rosie and Dan’s Roman and Harley Blue and Ruby’s Bonnie and Summer Rose, all great memories
When Angie & Kevin bought a flat in Fuengirola, Spain Ray was there to help firstly with Kevin and the electrics and then visiting again to decorating throughout, even on the balcony painting the ceiling at high level. They enjoyed staying there with friends Pam & Mike and Steph & Rhona.
They were still caravanning with new friends Gill & Roy being able to take the time to stay longer and travelling further away. They also when on another cruise with them, enjoying their company and all the lovely food.

Ray & sue travelled in August 2016 to Pirbright to see Cheryl in her pass off parade, he was delighted he was invited and very proud
In 2016 Ray & Sue were delighted to receive a letter from the Queen for their 60th Diamond Wedding Anniversary and celebrated with all the family with a meal at The Elm Tree at Swanwick
Ray took great pride that his youngest Grandchild, Scarlet after two year working in Australia had joined the army. The Queen Royal Hussars Regiment, watching her passing out parade on a live feed at home
Ray was very proud of his grandson Declan when he bought his own house and the family worked together to modernize the complete building, recently travelling on his scooter to Fareham to see how it was progressing.
Ray, never too old to enjoy a day out joined Cheryl, Ruby and Bonnie in June to Pepper Pig, going on every ride with his 4-year-old Grand-daughter Bonnie.
Ray was loved by everyone that knew him and he will be sadly missed
Rest in Peace Ray