Sue Simmonds (16 Mar 1936 - 4 Dec 2024)

In loving memory of Sue Simmonds who sadly passed away on 4th December 2024

Mary Elizabeth was born on 16th March 1936 in Totton; younger sister to Bill and daughter to Ollie & Betty Moody

The story goes that Bill had a book that had a naughty little girl in who’s name was Sue, and that when Mary’s name was changed to Sue and has been used by everyone ever since.

After school Sue worked decorating the small cakes & buns with icing at Lowmans in Portswood & it was there that she would meet the love of her life & soulmate Ray Simmonds. As well as Ray, Sue also met Barb & Ernie who became lifelong friends.

Not long after meeting, Ray was required to complete his national service, so before he went he proposed to Sue and an engagement party was organised on Saturday 13th February 1954 at the Simmonds family home at Oaktree Road in Bitterne Park Thankfully he wasn’t posted abroad, in fact he never left the county, stationed at Aldershot in the catering corps as a baker. Ray was later promoted to an instructor, teaching other recruits bakery skills, which earnt him a promotion to Lance Corporal. As was the case back in the 1950s Ray & Sue kept in contact by letter, with Ray occasionally hitching a ride back to Southampton to visit his sweetheart.

Once Ray had completed his national service he married Sue in St Luke’s Church Southampton on 8th September 1956.

Sue & Ray started their married life living in a flat above Pheasants bakery in Pinner, London when they grabbed an opportunity to work there together. It was there that they made good lifelong friends Jack & Dorothy, who later became godparents to Sue & Ray’s children.

For the newly weds in post war Britain, money was tight as they saved to purchase a house. Ray took on extra work which left Sue alone in a big city so eventually the couple moved back down south so they could be close to friends & family once more, where they managed to buy a bungalow at Sarisbury Green.

Thankfully both Sue & Ray were welcomed back at Lowmans in Portswood, reunited with Barb & Ernie who had also become married in the interim.

On 8th April 1963, Sue & Ray were blessed with the birth of their first daughter Angela. The young family moved to a larger house on Dimond Road in Bitterne Park, close to both Ray’s & Sue’s mum, who had both recently been widowed. Whilst Ray moved to a new job in Chandlers Ford, and later to Fords Sue stayed at home with Angela, starting a new business making cakes for birthdays, weddings & Christmas

This business went from strength to strength, with stunning wedding cakes from one tier to an amazing five tier, all with handmade flowers and artistic royal icing. Christmas cakes were very popular, one year an amazing 75 cakes were completed and collected by customers, not forgetting the black forest gateaux and mince pies.
Dimond Road always smelt of cakes, there was always an excuse for a cake whether for your birthday or anyone in the family, Easter, Mother’s day and anniversary’s. We all remember her giving us an icing bag and shown how to squeeze it to write our name on the kitchen work top.
Sue also did some catering, making it a full wedding experience.

In August 1970 Sue & Ray welcomed a second daughter Cheryl into the world to make the family complete.

In 1971 Sue & Ray bought a caravan for family holidays and joined the West Hampshire Caravan Club. As a family they would join others for memorable weekends away, making some wonderful new friends. Eventually Sue & Ray joined forces with Doreen & Colin & their daughter Debbie to run weekend rallies such as the strawberry rally at Locks Heath & the activity rally at Fairthorn Manor, where they cooked hundreds of pancakes for those attending. There was also the bonfire rally at Holmsley and many more besides.

In 1975 the two families expanded their operation by running their first holiday rally in Bognor Regis for two weeks with help from Eddie & Iris, Ron & Hazel, Pam & Mike and Steph & Rhona. The Simmonds family travelled 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, they would venture to the south of France with friends Ed & Iris, Pam & Mike and Steph & Rhona. Not to forget, the traditional Caravan Club Carol service started by Sue & Ray 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 Sue & Ray of course. This tradition lasted for 36 years!

Christmas was also an important tradition in the Simmonds family calendar, joined by friends & family at Dimond Road, enjoying homecooked food with both Sue & Ray’s mums staying overnight joined by Sue’s brother Bill & Ray’s sister Janice & brother Eric & his wife Anne.

In 1989, Sue & Ray became grandparents when the first of their grandchildren Rosie was born, followed by Declan, Ruby then Scarlett. Sue & Ray were very proud of all their grandchildren who remember time spent.

I have many lovely memories of my dear nanny, but my favourite is when I would stay with her and grandad and in the morning always have dippy egg with soldiers. We would trick each other with the eggs and both end up laughing and laughing. I now play this with my own children and think of my nanny every single time. I love you nanny xxx Rosie

Thank you, Nan, for all of the love and support you have given me throughout the years and memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I will forever be grateful for the time you gave me, looking after me as a child to being there to celebrate key moments in my life, I have missed you and will continue to miss you until we meet again. xxx Declan

My lovely nanny who will finally now be reunited with her other half, the lady who made the best Welsh rarebit and flapjacks, the comfiest before bed microwaveable teddy at Christmas. The lady that taught me how to hold playing cards correctly and how to make fondant flowers, the lady who showed me that true long lasting love is possible. May her mind rest easy now in internal peace. With Phoebe on her lap and grandad by her side. My wonderful nanny xxx Scarlet

Thank you nanny for everything, I will miss you more than words can express, Your footsteps can never be filled nor your love ever forgotten, From baking Florentines in the kitchen, to our adventures away with so many happy memories I will cherish forever I know Phoebe been waiting and my grandad too, so rest now my nanny because I love you. xxx Ruby

Once Ray had retired from Fords, he & Sue enjoyed more holidays abroad, enjoying cruises in particular with friends, Pam & Mike & Sue brother Bill and another with Roy & Gill and visiting Fuengirola in Spain with Ray’s sister Janice.

Sue & Ray also loved to join Kevin, Angie & Declan on their American holidays, witnessing the joy of Declan’s face when he first saw Mickey Mouse & on a subsequent trip swimming with dolphins at Discovery Cove.

In 1997 Sue & Ray downsized with a move to Locks Heath to be closer to Angie & Kevin. This afforded them the opportunity to transform their house into a beautiful home with the addition of a conservatory and an entire overhaul of the garden

When Angie & Kevin bought a flat in Fuengirola, Spain Sue & Ray enjoyed staying there with friends Pam & Mike and Steph & Rhona. They were still caravanning with Gill & Roy being able to take the time to stay longer and travelling further away.

Sue & Ray would also regularly travel to Kent to visit Cheryl, Gary and their grandchildren. They enjoyed helping out on the farm whether that be gathering eggs, picking cherries & greengages or pruning & watering tomatoes & cucumbers in the Polytunnels. Throughout their life, Sue & Ray always had pet dogs in tow & when on the farm they would invite Cheryl’s farm dogs to join them in their caravan awning.

Eventually Sue & Ray’s family would grow further with the birth of great grandchildren - Rosie and Dan’s Roman & Harley Blue and Ruby’s Bonnie and Summer Rose.

In August 2016 Sue & Ray travelled to Pirbright to see Cheryl in her pass off parade; naturally they were very proud parents. The very next month Sue & Ray 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.

About five years ago, Sue started to show signs of dementia & eventually moved to the safety of Brook Lane Rest home. 2 years ago, Sue’s husband of 66 years passed away & her health declined further until on 4th December, Sue closed her eyes for the very last time, reunited with her life’s partner Ray.