David John Simmons (25 Jun 1936 - 5 Dec 2023)

In loving memory of David John Simmons who slipped away peacefully on 5th December 2023. Loving father to John and Robert and grandfather to Philippa, Declan, Charlotte, Jonathan and Jeremy.

Now re-united with his wife Muriel who was taken from us far too soon.

Will be sadly missed by his friends and family in Warwickshire and Hampshire.

Tribute delivered at Dad's funeral

Dear friends and family, thank you so much for coming to support us and help to celebrate Dad’s life. As Dad would say, “Watcha”. Some have travelled many miles and it is really appreciated. Others are not able to travel but are still with us virtually by the magic of modern technology. The messages of sympathy we have received over that last couple of weeks have been truly heart warming and it has been a great strength to hear how Dad touched so many lives in so many ways.

Dad did not have the easiest start in life. He was born in Althorpe Street in Leamington Spa. He lost his father when he was 11 and his elder brother Bill far too early. However, Dad and his sister, Doreen, remained very close, sharing many happy times together over the years. As a boy, Dad would do his best to support his single mum’s budget by delivering groceries on his bike after school. It was at Clapham Street School that Dad met Mom but it was far from love at first sight. In Dad’s words, they hated each other. Dad was a member of the Boys Brigade and Leamington Boys Club. Early on, Dad discovered a passion for carpentry and was very proud to have built the first wood and canvas canoes in the Leamington Boys Club which then went on to become Leamington Canoe Club which is still going strong today.

After school Dad did his National Service in the RAF. Although Boot Camp was tough, Dad was firmly of that opinion that it was good for him. Dad was then stationed on the Wirral and spent the rest of his time trying to survive demob parties and trying to avoid a charge after getting back late from weekends at home.
Fortunately Mom and Dad’s dislike for each other evaporated after they left school and they got engaged and married and moved into a flat on Tachbrook Road. There they saved up until they were in a position to buy 13 Northway in Leamington Spa.

Rob and I were born at home. Dad wasn’t too happy when I arrived because he had to sell his much beloved Velocette 350 and buy a car. Dad was keen for Rob and me to grow up in the country so we moved from Leamington to Kingsley Road in Bishops Tachbrook. We had an idyllic childhood with lots of adventures in the woods, ponds and streams around the village. Mom and Dad got really involved with village life. Dad was a member of the Parochial Church Council and was a church warden for several years. As a carpenter and builder, Dad’s services were often called upon throughout the village. When we’ve visited Tachbrook in recent years, Dad was always proud to see his handiwork has survived the test of time. Rob and I helped Dad build a workshop and utility room in the garden at home. Dad was always keen to pass on his practical skills and taught us not to be afraid of taking on jobs around the home. His motto was “it doesn’t matter about making mistakes, it’s how you recover from them that counts.” Dad, I’m going to miss being able to call on you for advice when things go wrong. I hope you can hear me praying for your help in the future.

As Dad approached the end of his working life, Mom and Dad decided to move to the North with the idea that Dad would take on small building jobs until he retired. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work out that way. Before they left, Dad had started work on the renovation of a hunting lodge in the grounds of Warwick castle. A job he loved but unfortunately meant commuting back to Warwickshire after they had moved. Mom and Dad then moved to Coventry and then on to Kenilworth. Mom and Dad were members of the Oddfellows Society which gave Dad lots of support in bereavement. Dad went on to become a Provincial Grand Master and had the honour of attending many formal functions and raising money for charities close to his heart. Dad had always fancied retiring to the south coast and finally moved into Garden Mews. Before we lost Mom I don’t think Dad had ever cooked a meal. When Mom was busy, Dad’s specialty was cheese on toast but that was the full extent of his repertoire. Living on his own Dad was a quick leaner and soon realised he had a flair for baking and many of us have been the beneficiaries of that. I was reassured last week to hear that his secret recipe for sausage rolls is in safe hands. Having more free time allowed Dad to re-establish his passion for art. As a child he loved to draw animals and more recently he learned how to paint with watercolours. We are lucky enough to have some of his paintings to treasure. He was a great gardener and always willing to give help and advice to others.

Dad was always passionate about sport. As a youngster he played cricket in the summer and football in the winter. For charity, he once played dressed in drag, dodging cow pats, on the field opposite the Leopard in Tachbrook. His teams were Leamington Spa, Coventry City and more recently the Saints. Mom used to despair sometimes that there wasn’t a sport he wouldn’t watch however in recent years we noticed that he didn’t have much time for women’s football and even less time for sports pundits of any kind.

Over the last few months Dad has had to give his date of birth to various agencies and medical departments. Without fail he proudly replied “25th June 1936, the year we had 3 kings”. They were of course George V, Edward VIII and George VI. Dad was fiercely independent. As a family we agonised over broaching the topic of a care home as his health declined but he surprised us all with how keen he was to move into Ancasta Grove. Unfortunately, his time there was short and punctuated by a stay in Queen Alexandra Hospital. The staff at Ancasta Grove are so caring and made Dad’s final weeks as comfortable as possible and his passing was so peaceful. Good night Dad, rest in peace.