Asaph Simmonds (1870~1949)

Asaph Simmonds, the son of Abraham Simmonds and Caroline Bugg was born in 1870 in Rougham Suffolk. He was christened in Rougham on the 15th January 1870.

He married Edith Ellen Parish (the daughter of Robert Parish and Ellen Parish) on the 22nd September 1898 in Rougham and together they had the following children:

• Eva Elizabeth Simmonds (1900~ )
• Pelham Robert Simmonds (1902~1980)
• Thomas Hector Simmonds (1906~1971)

According to the 1901 census he was then working as a Domestic Coachman in Rougham. Between 1902 and 1906 they moved to Areley Kings, Stourport where he worked as a Domestic Coachman for Edward Alfred Broome at Areley Court in Areley Kings. Unfortunately Areley Court no longer exists as it was demolished following storm damage, but the gate house still remains as a private residence on the main road. By 1929 Asaph had become a Market Gardener (this is his occupation entered on Pelham Robert Simmonds marriage certificate) with an allotment on the land opposite the house 'Hazeldean' on Areley Common . The allotments are still in use today although a new Village Hall has been erected on some of the land.

Family members interviewed in 2006 recall Asaph as being badly crippled and walking with the aid of walking sticks.

Asaph died on the 5th October 1949 aged 79 years and Edith Ellen Simmonds died on the 10th October 1960 aged 86 years. They were both buried in the parish church of St. Bartholomew, Areley Kings however there was no headstone at this time. The current headstone was put there by his grandson, David Brian Simmonds, following the death of his mother Ada Simmonds in 1997.