Marianne Simmonds Mayoress of Newport 1912 - 1913
Photo reference number: 2129
Marianne Simmonds (nee Marianne Middleton Weaver) was the wife of Charles Perry Simmonds. Together they ran the CP Simmonds stores, these included 148 Chepstow Road, 135 Caerleon Road, 160 Shaftesbury Street, 218 Stow Hill, London Street and Goldcroft Caerleon. Charles was Mayor of Newport 1912 to 1913 and Marianne is pictured here wearing her chain of office. Through her life she contributed greatly to the community as her obituary from the South Wales Argus 1940 testifies:
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DEATH OF MRS. C. P. SIMMONDS
Former Newport Mayoress
The South Wales Argus regret to have to announce the death of Mrs. C. P. Simmonds, a former Mayoress of Newport, which occurred after a long illness on Tuesday. She was 71 years of age, the widow of Mr. C. P. Simmonds, a well-known Newport Magistrate and business man.
Before her marriage, Mrs. Simmonds, who belonged to Birmingham, was Miss Marianne Middleton Weaver. She went to Newport when she was young, and later married Mr. C. P. Simmonds, who was in business at 148 Chepstow Road. Newport.
Mrs. Simmonds worked for the Women Citizens' Association, and gave much of her time and energy to Victoria Avenue Wesleyan Church. Since her husband's death she was Superintendent of Archibald Street Mission Sunday School. There were three sons, one of whom was killed while serving with the Royal Flying Corps in the last war. Two sons survive, Mr. Wilfrid Simmonds, an inspector under the Ministry of Food, and Mr. Edwin Clifford Simmonds, who is in business at Newport. Her only daughter is Mrs. D. M. Gough, of Westbury Park, Bristol.
Mrs. Simmonds was actively interested in education activities at Newport, and was a co-opted member of Newport Education Committee until her death.
