There have been requests for the funeral and memorial arrangements, so the family would like to confirm as follows:
Thursday 5th January 2017. The family will hold a small private funeral at Parish Church of St Peter, Chelmarsh, Shropshire at 12 noon.
Friday 17th February 2017. There will be a Memorial Service held at Birmingham Cathedral, Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 2QB at 2.00 pm. Simon's family and all of us at Westley Richards look forward to welcoming as many people as possible. Further details will be provided in due course, but please let Kerry MacDonald at kerry@westleyrichards.co.uk know if you intend to attend so suitable catering arrangements can be made.
The family has requested no flowers and for those who would like to do so, please instead make a donation to the 'Gunmakers Company Charitable Trust'. The necessity to keep gunmaking skills alive was integral to Simon Clodes' own long term vision for the gunmaking industry. The GCCT awards bursaries to further encourage this, so all donations are most welcome. Details below:
The Secretary to the Trustees
The Gunmakers’ Company Charitable Trust
The Proof House
48-50 Commercial Road
London E1 1LP
Larry on December 28, 2016 at 3:59 pm
Simon was indeed a visionary, bringing youth to a traditionally dusty segment of this industry. I know he did this for me and so much of the WR team that has the ability to take the company into the future! I think the continuation of what he could foresee is the most appropriate gesture.
James Kilday on January 1, 2017 at 5:00 am
The time you won your town the race
We chaired you through the marketplace.
Man and boy stood cheering by,
And home we brought you shoulder high.
Smart lad to slip betimes away,
From fields where glory does not stay.
And early though the laurel grows,
It withers quicker than a rose.
Now you will not swell the route
Of lads that wore their honors out.
Runners who renown outran
And the name died before the man.
And round that early-laurelled head
Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead
And find unwithered on its curls
The garland briefer than a girl's.
A Shropshire Lad
A.E. Housman
Tony Maidment on February 1, 2017 at 2:58 am
I'm very sorry to hear your sad news.
Kind regards,
Tony (ex Purdey engraver)