Glyn Jones
24-04 2020 21:15
wrote:
We became friends in infant school at the age of 6 and this continued for 59 years with messages traded from his hospital bed up to a few days before he left us. We grew up together as our parents were also close friends and even had a joint 18th celebration with birthdays just 13 days apart. From an early age he was certain he would be a policeman and sure enough off to Hendon he went passing out as top cadet and he never looked back. My career in the oil industry took me around the world but we always kept in touch. There was of course the tough exterior but inside he was such a caring, considerate and loyal friend. Aged around 14 coming back from Bracknell swimming pool we were picked on by 3 boys; Simon told me to ‘step aside as he would deal with it’. Thirty seconds of demonstrating the potential of his judo skills saw the would-be thugs running away and we carried on walking home as if nothing had happened. When my father died in 2010 aged 94 we buried him in his birth village of Llanddewi Brefi in a remote part of mid Wales, only 2 people came from outside the family circle and one was Simon driving 400 miles in the day, it was so appreciated.
In recent years we spent more time together with Simon and Debbie coming to Mexico City for 2 weeks in late 2018. First trip out was to the Aztec Pyramids followed by ordering him a special dried grasshopper taco lunch as pictured, to my surprise he ate one full taco. Also took them to a mariachi style restaurant and I slipped the band leader 100 pesos to keep serenading Simon knowing he would hate it and make Debbie laugh. The picture shows his joy, I didn’t know at the time that my friend Robin had also done the same, so we had squirming Simon for 20 minutes. We stayed in Bookham last July visiting Hampton Court, eating calf’s liver, listening to his stories and played golf. I was looking forward to many repeats (except perhaps every Royal story) as I recently retired but sadly this is not now to be. When there was no longer replies to my messages in early April, I knew things weren't good as he was Mr Reliability. I am still in shock that he has left us as always thought him indestructible – he was a very special person and we will miss him greatly!
Glyn & Annie
.
Glyn Jones
24-04 2020 21:15
wrote:
We became friends in infant school at the age of 6 and this continued for 59 years with messages traded from his hospital bed up to a few days before he left us. We grew up together as our parents were also close friends and even had a joint 18th celebration with birthdays just 13 days apart. From an early age he was certain he would be a policeman and sure enough off to Hendon he went passing out as top cadet and he never looked back. My career in the oil industry took me around the world but we always kept in touch. There was of course the tough exterior but inside he was such a caring, considerate and loyal friend. Aged around 14 coming back from Bracknell swimming pool we were picked on by 3 boys; Simon told me to ‘step aside as he would deal with it’. Thirty seconds of demonstrating the potential of his judo skills saw the would-be thugs running away and we carried on walking home as if nothing had happened. When my father died in 2010 aged 94 we buried him in his birth village of Llanddewi Brefi in a remote part of mid Wales, only 2 people came from outside the family circle and one was Simon driving 400 miles in the day, it was so appreciated.
In recent years we spent more time together with Simon and Debbie coming to Mexico City for 2 weeks in late 2018. First trip out was to the Aztec Pyramids followed by ordering him a special dried grasshopper taco lunch as pictured, to my surprise he ate one full taco. Also took them to a mariachi style restaurant and I slipped the band leader 100 pesos to keep serenading Simon knowing he would hate it and make Debbie laugh. The picture shows his joy, I didn’t know at the time that my friend Robin had also done the same, so we had squirming Simon for 20 minutes. We stayed in Bookham last July visiting Hampton Court, eating calf’s liver, listening to his stories and played golf. I was looking forward to many repeats (except perhaps every Royal story) as I recently retired but sadly this is not now to be. When there was no longer replies to my messages in early April, I knew things weren't good as he was Mr Reliability. I am still in shock that he has left us as always thought him indestructible – he was a very special person and we will miss him greatly!
Glyn & Annie
.
