Margaret Elizabeth Simmons (21 Oct 1921 - 6 Aug 2020)

Gran,
What a wonderful family legacy you have left behind!
Mother of 1, grateful Grandmother of 3, loving great grandmother of 8 and proud great great grandmother of 2. Probably your proudest achievement.
As a young child I use to love visiting you during holidays at Scratby in Norfolk, where you lived with Grandad Fred as shop owners. I remember sitting in a highchair in the kitchen so I couldn't of been that old.
Full of beach toys, the shop was where I loved to be. I remember raiding it on a regular basis and was never short of fun things to play with, it didn't take much for me to capitalize on your generosity. You were always exceedingly kind and loving. Every summer holiday I would visit and stay for weeks on end and it was always sad leaving you.
Eventually you both retired and the shop became your huge front room, from there you could see the sea and clifftops and large green, ideal for flying kites and riding bikes. This is where myself, my brother and sister use to spend most our time playing, under your watchful eye.
I can remember so many happy times spent with you and Grandad. Some of my happiest memories from my childhood and I can remember it all so vividly.
Later in life you moved to Somersham with grandad and it was great for us kids to have you near.
Unfortunately, soon after moving down your life changed. What should have been a time for enjoying being closer to family became a time of sadness and loss, which I know was a huge blow for You and Grandad, especially as You both loved spending time with the Family and we were the reason why you moved near. Along with the rest of the Family you went through probably the darkest period of your life with lots of upset at this time.
With the death of grandad Fred in 1990 you found support and help from amazing friends in the village with whom I know you were so thankful for.
Your strength of character and determination to keep going was incredible and even at the end you showed amazing resilience.
Rest in peace gran and thankyou for the memories and love.

Grandma peg was wonderful woman who was kind hearted, witty and had a great sense of humour. I have many happy memories with gran from when I was little; when we went round her house, she would make me hot sausage rolls and would tell us stories. She was always pleased to see her family; I remember her coming to birthday and Christmas parties and seeing her smiling; when me and dad used to visit her in the evening to make sure she was okay before bed, she would always make him laugh. She couldn’t have received better care during her final years from the carers, mum, dad and Auntie Katie. Love you lots gran, we all miss you xx

It was an absolute pleasure to have spent the last couple of years spending time with a remarkable and quite naturally funny person. We had many evenings where me and my brother would be in hysterics. It was lovely to see her laugh. Gran loved to see her family. She was a Gran, a Great Gran and a Great Great gran. What an achievement to see all those generations. It feels very strange not to see you every day, but glad to know you are at peace and with Grandad. Love you Gran xx

When we used to go home from grans we would always give her a hug while she was sat in her chair. I am ten so she was 88 when I was born so I haven’t know her as long as everyone else in the family but I did know her long enough to know that she was a kind and caring person. I remember when I was little she bought me a fox cup and I still have it and I’m glad I do because it’s something to remember her by. I loved gran very much even though she is gone she will always be in my heart. Love you gran xxx

Grandma peg was a lovely, kind and caring person. she never failed to make me laugh With her quick witted sense of humour, even into her final weeks she would still have me laughing. She was an amazing great grandma and great great grandma, never forgetting anyone’s birthdays and always buying us all presents. My favourite present being when I was younger I wanted a fireman sam outfit and my mum would never let me have it, however gran still got it for me, she still remembered the story years later. We will all miss you gran and hopefully you can rest now.

I will always remember the stories gran used to tell while we would all be drinking tea. I remember listening to the big sea shell that used to sit on the right side of her fireplace while she told me that if you quiet and listen carefully you can hear the seaside where the shell came from and that always used to fascinate me every time we went round. My favourite memory of gran was as we were leaving she would always stand in her bedroom window and wave to us until we were out of site. Gran has always been a family person and was greatly loved by all her family and will be deeply missed love you gran, Becky xx

Grandma peg will be missed by everyone greatly, she was a very kind and caring person who had a very warm heart and good spirit. I always remember listening to a different story every time we’d visit her, each one would always fascinate me. Now that she is in a better place I hope she can rest in peace xx

Peg was a lovely, witty woman with a great sense of humour. She was very organised and would always remember everyone’s birthday with cards prepped months in advance. She loved coming to family parties. At Christmas she could never wait to open her present as she was too excited and would always produce hot sausage rolls on any visit. She had so many lovely friends and neighbours and would receive dozens of cards and flowers on her birthdays and Christmas. Peg was a delight to look after, never grumpy and always grateful. I can still hear her saying to me ‘that’s a pretty outfit dear give us a twirl’ and ‘I know it’s you because you’re always smiling’. She was a lovely Great Gran to my children and we will miss her. You can rest now Peg xxx

Grandma always loved telling us stories about her life as a child & I found it fascinating when she’d talk about her life in WWII. Whenever we’d visit as children, she would always offer us an ice cream or a sausage roll & we’d drink her cream soda which was a scoop of ice cream in lemonade. You’d never see her without a packet of shortbread biscuits nearby. Not only was she a great grandma, but also a great great Grandma and adored seeing all of her grandchildren.
Gran would always comment on what I was wearing and I think she was the only person I knew that genuinely liked my ridiculously colourful trouser collection. I will miss Grandma very much and I am glad to have been with her towards her final moments for I know that she is now in peace and reunited with Grandad Fred. All the love, Gran.