Please send your memories to Sarah Stacey and they will be posted on this page.
Grace Skelton
'He was always ready with a kind word, a smile and such genuine interest in everybody else. I loved updating him on the progress of our yard although most of the time, he knew more about our wins and our disappointments than I did!'
Roy and Sue Burden
'Where have the last 60 years gone? When we first knew Simon he was a little boy in short trousers who used to come to stay at Loppington [Shropshire]. He will be sadly missed by so many.'
Mike and Sarah Small
'Simon will remain in our memories as we so enjoyed his company and the knowledge and humour that went with it. He was such a character in his ability to put up to date topics - none ever serious - into memorable conversation embellished with humour.'
Tim Williams
'We had some great times together - sometimes doing something but very often doing little. Always entertaining, always fun.'
Chris, Brian and Julie Hocken
'He was always the first person we would look for in a room full of people due to his encyclopedic knowledge of sport, his good humour and charismatic personality. Over the years, we could see first hand his great generosity, first class hospitality and the time he had for others.'
Becky Lock
'He was a legend. I will treasure all the times we all shared together - hunting, point to pointing and at Taunton races. A more welcoming host you could never meet; no one ever went dry - that's for sure.'
Pauline and Richard Phelps
'His sociability and natural "old world" charm endeared him to so many. We enjoyed many a happy hour over a glass or two in his company.'
Colin Horlock
'He will always be remembered for his great zest for life and enthusiasm for everything he did, also for his amazing sense of humour, vision and ability to get things done.'
Robert Blackburn
'He was one of Nature's true gentlemen, with a warm charm, light friendly wit and a zest for life.'
Vyvyan Eames
'We shared a love of racing and I was fortunate enough to ride his Reuben Dewy in the Hunt Race - "unseating rider two out...".'
Colin Paynes
'Our telephone conversations were always fun and rewarding. He was a great "overcomer" and often I would pick up the phone both to catch up and to be lifted and encouraged by Simon.'
Peggy Hannam
'He could squeeze more people into a party venue than anyone else! Simon was a character who touched the hearts of so many, in so many ways.'
Harry, Kate, Ophelia, Otto and Rufus Dunn
'Simon always dressed immaculately when going to the races or church - in his smart pinstriped suit or tweeds. He was always punctual or ahead of time. Going to a point-to-point he always had such a well stocked hamper and drinks supplies and was always so generous. It is utterly devastating to all of us to have lost him.' I am sure we will sit down time and time again and discuss many fond memories over a drink.'
Chris and Heather Dunn
'Simon was a great person to spend time with - his sense of humour, unfailing manners and generosity made him great company, and he was always aware of other peoples' needs. He knew how to enjoy life and did so with gusto.'
John and Mal Lee
'Simon was a dynamic character who always had plenty to contribute, laced with his self-deprecating sense of humour. Socially gregarious, he had time for and could speak the language of everyone regardless of background.'
Nick Engert
'Simon definitely did things his way and had the personal conviction and confidence to do so. He was never destined to be a peg in anybody else's board, round or square. I admired him for this as well as for his quick wit, genial persona and the fact that he could drive a golf ball even further into the undergrowth than I could ever manage.'
Heather Phillips
'A food memory I will always associate with Simon is haggis - my first ever introduction was when he brought one back from Scotland for us. To our surprise we all enjoyed it. For all his fun, frivolity and banter, he was very warm, caring, dependable and sensitive to others.
Roy and Helen Lock
'We always enjoyed Hunt Balls at Cotley and point-to-point suppers at Cuttifords Door Farm - Simon once managed to lose all his keys playing rugby in our field and even a metal detector couldn't find them.'
Cess and Lucy Mitford-Slade
'A lovely warm friendly man, always with a smile on his face. Taunton races will never be the same without him.'
Martin and Lyn Vorspuy
'We were great buddies for 20 years, sharing a passion for all the good things in life - racing, golf, eating and drinking. We always enjoyed his forays up here [Galashiels] - we always seemed to just have a great time, nothing pretentious just great fun and that is how we will always remember him.'
Memories of Simon from the Oxford Poly Class of 1969
(before the Poly became Oxford Brookes University)
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Clive Hall
'We all have our individual memories of Simon. To me, he was simply a great guy, who was always a pleasure to be with. I admired his drive to live life to the full!'
Chris Hill
'As an ex-flatmate, along with Bob and Pete Waddington, I agree with [Clive's] sentiments about Simon entirely. I have some great memories, especially of that time together, particularly of his dry sense of humour. He did fantastically well to get to our 50th reunion dinner in Oxford and to remain so sociable as well. Just as I would expect from him.'
Bob Gardner
'I have very many fond memories of Simon. As Chris has said, we shared a flat together in Abingdon in the second year at college. He was always great company and fun to be with. I also sat next to him in our lecture room and enjoyed swapping funny comments under our breath about some of our eccentric lecturers.
'Much is said about his love of horse racing and that is my recollection too. We used to walk into town from our flat in the early evening to go to the fish and chip shop but very conveniently there was a bookmaker en route. Simon would often pop in there to place a bet.
'I am not sure he was that successful in his bets and he soon realised that being a bookmaker made better returns than being a punter. Hence on one occasion he decided to set up a bookmakers stall with a blackboard at the entrance to the college refectory before one major race (probably the Derby). Somehow he managed to rope me in as his assistant. I can't recall exactly what my role was, probably chalking up the odds or enticing students to place bets from their meagre grants.
'Anyway, we had a good time and it caused quite a stir, although I don't think we made much profit. Nevertheless, it said a lot about Simon and his initiative and entrepreneurial spirit. Even then he was always interested to hear of new business ventures that had been started. I was not surprised therefore when he set up his business and made a success of it.
'He was a great friend to us all. With his humour and his easy-going nature he made no enemies and I am sure that he will be very fondly remembered by everyone.'
Paul Davies
'My impression of Simon: he meets St Peter at the gate of heaven - "Tell you what, double or quits!" I will miss him and always think fondly of him.'
Max Morrison
'Many years ago after Judy and I bought our first home - a tiny, old and white painted cottage in Timperley - just before our daughter Angelique was born, Simon called and asked if he could come up and stay for the week-end..... assuming that we would like to accompany him and Joy to a meeting at Haydock Park on the Saturday!
'He came with newspaper race lists and form, likely odds, and fully attired (pre-Farage era) with brown hat, furry brown collar to his racing jacket, and brogues plus waxed jacket and umbrella in case of rain. It was a day of gains and losses, but he enjoyed all the nuances of the tick-tack hand signals.
'While we were at the Poly we had been with Simon on so many race outings at the weekends, it was lovely to do this again up in Lancashire.
'Also I remember he would come out with words such as "concomitant" that I had never heard before.
'Simon was a very lovely human being.'
Jon Shirley
'I too have memories of Stace, at Kempton Park on a Boxing Day, attired in the brown trilby and the Del Boy coat, totally absorbed with form, tolerating a novice with no knowledge of the finer points.
'From 1973 to 1975 we shared a flat in deeply unfashionable Battersea while both working in Town. The flat was found for us by Simon's sister Sarah, and was owned by an acquaintance of hers, a bachelor man of the cloth with a false leg. It was also occupied by the spinster headmistress of a primary school. Both were far from the bloom of youth and as eccentric as the day is long. For this flat share we paid the Reverend £10 per month all inclusive. I repeat £10 pm for a flat across the River from Chelsea. These flats in now fashionable Battersea change hands for up to and beyond £1 million.
'I went to both his weddings (!) and on a couple of holidays with him and his family. I am a godfather to his two children with Di. So, we were good mates for quite a while.
'Rest in Peace, old son. It was a battle towards the end, but whenever we spoke on the phone he was unfailingly upbeat and optimistic. His epitaph perhaps.'
Wendy Luscombe
'I always remember Simon. I considered him a great friend and we did lots of fun things together. Like Max we went to a race meeting, this one was at Newbury race course, Simon showed me how to bet and we both lost money!
'Another Simon outing was when we finished one of our RICS exams in Bloomsbury Square we drove back home in his MG Midget with the top down and radio blasting. I remember driving through London listening to Sweet Caroline.
'He was a great person and will leave special memories with us all.'
Richard Plummer
'I'm sure we all enjoyed Simon's unalloyed enthusiasms and wonderful - unforgettable - personality. I can't really add to, or do better than, the tributes already circulated, but the attached photos [up the top] may serve of a reminder of a great evening together, a lovely man and a worthy farewell to Simon.'
Rupert Sheppard
'I cannot claim to have been close to Simon but what touching tributes have been paid to a very special and impressive guy and how wonderfully they have brought out his unique personality. I loved Max's description of Simon's racing attire! When God created Simon he certainly broke the mould.'
Ralph aka Hiawather/Geronimo
'I have just read the sad news of Simon's passing and all the lovely emails that followed the news. I was no fan of horse racing when at college, still not now! I have to admit, however, I have attended Ascot, Newbury and Kempton Park meetings where I have lost money on horses. Give me motorcycle racing any day! At the Poly I was not close to Simon but appreciated his eccentric nature and his clever play with words. He was a memorable character. RIP Simon wherever you have gone to.'
Clive Lickley
'I was glad to have met up with Simon at our last reunion where we had a chat about village cricket- he seemed very passionate about it. I was surprised about that as at college he seemed a 100mph sort of chap and I would have thought playing cricket (which I did last year - hours of standing in a field!) or watching a match would be too dull for him.
'Frogeye Sprites, games of squash and camping trips to Lulworth Cove also come to mind when I think of Simon.'