Mayor And Mayoress of Newport Ready For The Plum Pudding Parade
Photo reference number: 2127
The Mayor and Mayoress of Newport (Mr and Mrs C. P. Simmonds) ready to lead the plum pudding parade at the New Year's treat to 2400 poor children on Thursday 2 January 1913.
See link below for information about the plum pudding parade.
Charles Perry Simmonds was Mayor of Newport 1912-1913. His wife was Marianne Simmonds, nee Weaver. Here are two obituaries from the press following his sudden death in 1931:
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Western Mail Tuesday 13 January 1931
OBITUARY.
MR. C. P. SIMMONDS,
BATHROOM COLLAPSE OF FORMER MAYOR.
Mr. Charles P. Simmonds, one of Newport's best-known public men and a prominent tradesman, died suddenly on Monday. He was in his usual health on Sunday, and, as usual, presided at the organ at both morning and evening services, at Victoria Wesleyan Methodist Church, while in the afternoon he was at Alchibald street Sunday school, where the mayor and mayoress attended to distribute the prizes. On Monday morning there was no sign of indisposition, but he collapsed in the bathroom and died immediately.
A native of Keynsham, near Bristol, Mr. Simmonds started business in Newport as a grocer and provision merchant in 1888. This business prospered, and others were opened in various parts of the town with equal success.
In 1902 Mr. Simmonds was elected member of the Newport Town Council and retained his seat on that body until 1919. In 1912-13 he was mayor of Newport. He was also a magistrate for the borough, and he regularly presided over the juvenile court on Wednesdays.
RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES.
Mr. Simmonds was very actively identified with the Wesleyan Methodist denomination, and had held practically every office open to a layman. For many years he bad been organist and choirmaster of Newport Wesleyan Church, and was superintendent of the Sunday school belonging to the Mission, in attendance at which he did not miss a Sunday for very many years.
From its inception he was president of the local Free Church Musicians' Union. He had been president of the Newport Grocers' and Provision Dealers' Association.
He was a founder of the Newport Chamber of Trade during his year of office as Mayor, and he was a keen temperance worker. His wife has been president of the Newport Free Church Council, and is also a co-opted member of the Newport Education Committee.
Tribute to Mr. Simmonds was paid on behalf of the local magistrates, members of the legal profession, and court officials at the Newport Police court on Monday.
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OBITUARY
A former Mayor of Newport, a prominent social worker, and an outstanding figure in the religious life of the town, Mr. C. P. Simmonds, J.P., died suddenly on Monday morning. He was preparing to go to his business when he is believed to have had a heart seizure, and collapsed in the bathroom.
He had not complained of any illness; in fact, he had a busy day, as usual, on Sunday, when he was organist at both services at Victoria Wesley Church, Maindee, and in the afternoon he attended Archibald street Sunday school, where the Mayor and Mayoress of Newport (Councillor and Mrs. T. Crowther) attended to distribute prizes.
Mr. Charles Perry Simmonds was born at Keynsham, Somerset, in 1865, and received the greater part of his education at the Merchant Venturers' School, Bristol. After a period in business at Stoke's Croft, he went to Newport, where he took premises in Chepstow road in 1888. Since then he has opened branches in other parts of the town.
A Former Mayor.
Mr. Simmonds first became a member of Newport Town Council in 1902, when he contested a by-election in the old Maindee Ward, and, after the re-distribution of seats, became member for Victoria Ward. He rendered good service on several of the committees, and in 1912 was elected Mayor of Newport.
As a Wesleyan he has held practically all the offices open to a layman. He has been a member of Victoria Wesleyan Church, Maindee, since 1890, and he has been organist and choirmaster of the Church for many years. In all affairs connected with the Church he has taken an active interest.
Interest in the Young.
A Justice of the Peace, Mr. Simmonds had been Chairman of the Juvenile Court for a long period, and there he had shown a great desire to do all possible for young offenders; he was ever anxious that children should be directed in the right paths rather than punished for their offences.
In 1889 he married Marianne, younger daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles Weaver, of Birmingham and they have three children — one daughter, Mrs. Gough, of Bristol, and two sons, Messrs. Wilfred and Clifford Simmonds, who assisted their father the business. Mrs. Simmonds takes a keen interest in social work, and she is one of the two lady members of Newport Education Committee, and a prominent worker in connection with Newport Women Citizens' Association.
Magistrate's Tribute.
The Mayor of Newport (Councillor T. Crowther), who presided at Newport Police Court, referred to the passing of Mr. Simmonds. "I was with him yesterday afternoon at a prize distribution at Archibald street Mission," said the Mayor. "He seemed to be in his usual health. Mr. Simmonds served on the Council for 17 years, was Mayor of this borough in 1912-13, and had been a magistrate since 1912.
"He was a very useful citizen. Newport has lost a good citizen and Mrs. Simmonds a very good husband."
List of Newport's Mayors