Tributes flood in for well-known Bromsgrove man (From Bromsgrove Advertiser)

Tributes flood in for well-known Bromsgrove man

11:34am Monday 30th November 2009

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TRIBUTES have been paid to the well-known and much loved Terry Simons who has sadly died at the age of 83.

Many mourners gathered to pay their respects to Terry, who ran Bromsgrove Guild Concrete Products, at his funeral earlier today.

Instantly recognizable by his twinkling eyes and a grin dominated by silver mutton-chop sideburns, Terry was a man who led a varied and fulfilling life.

“He was passionate and enthusiastic about everything in life and I think that’s how he will be remembered - that and the fact he was such a nice man,” said son Nick.

His business, which made traditional stone ornaments for nearly 40 years, actually came about by accident.

Terry had paid for a seven year lease on the yard for a roofing company he was then operating but found that all the planners would let him do is make garden ornaments.

High points in his career included donating the Dryad and Boer, near the post office, to mark the pedestrianisation of High Street and realising a personal ambition when delivering two urns to the home of Prince Charles and Diana.

Nick, who worked at Bromsgrove Guild with Terry, said: “Dad was very proud and he loved his business, he worked really hard to make it what it was.

“That was him though. He was a very committed man in whatever he chose to do, whether it was in his working life or his sports and athletics.”

Despite five heart attacks and having a pacemaker fitted a massive part of Terry’s life had been sports, particularly running which led to race-walking.

He first took up running at his doctor’s suggestion and found an interest which became a passion.

Among his many successes Terry held European championship medals for the 3,000 metre indoor track, 5,000 outdoor track and 20,000 outdoor road race-walking events and was ranked among the top six veterans in the world.

He also founded Redditch and Bromsgrove Athletic Club, coaching youngsters in the area before eventually becoming life president.

Nick added: “He loved running and all his athletics and was still actually competing right up until a few years ago.

“He was so fit - I trained with him a few times and had a real job to keep up with him.

“He loved to keep fit, he used to train four or five days a week and used to say that not many 20-year-olds could keep up with him.”

A well-know sight around the streets of Bromsgrove Terry will be missed by all whose life he touched.

He leaves behind his wife of 60 years Jean, children Nick, Lorraine, Caroline, and nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

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