Trevor Simmonds, teacher, traveller, theatre lover, bon viveur, and dedicated Press and Journal letter writer, has died aged 92.
He worked for the British Council teaching English in South America, developed a teacher training course for Trinity College, London, and spent much of his retirement touring the world with his wife Irene.
Trevor was also an actor and producer with Carden Arts Group in Aberdeen, and a founding member of the original Aberdeen Food and Wine Society.
Man of letters
His letters to The Press and Journal over many decades covered religion, politics, theatre and observations of everyday life.
Trevor was born in London in 1928. He was a proud Englishman who came to support Scottish independence.
His parents were Arthur and Florence Simmonds. His grandfather William had served with the Royal Navy during the Boxer Rebellion, and the First World War when he was chief cook at Chatham naval dockyard.
William’s commanding officer refused to release him for service on HMS Indefatigable, saying Chatham’s needs were greater.
Battle of Jutland
Shortly after, HMS Indefatigable and more than 1,000 lives were lost at the Battle of Jutland. Trevor was named in honour of the commanding officer who had refused to let him sail with the ship.
Trevor’s father was a customs officer who was transferred to Aberdeen at the start of the Second World War.
He was educated at Robert Gordon’s College and then Aberdeen University before beginning a career in teaching.
Marriage
At Ruthrieston Secondary School he met his future wife, fellow teacher Irene. He proposed at Retiro Park, Madrid, and the couple married at King’s College, Aberdeen, in 1959.
Trevor then went to work with the British Council, teaching in Montevideo, Uruguay, which gave the couple the chance to explore large areas of South America.
They had many adventures including crossing the Andes by train, visiting Peru, the ancient Inca city of Cuzco and Machu Pichu.
Their elder son, Christobal, known as Chris, was born in South America in 1962 and the family returned to Aberdeen the following year.
Trevor was asked to set up a unit for teaching English to foreign students at Aberdeen College of Commerce, and also ran a teacher training course on behalf of Trinity College, London.
The couple’s second son, Nicholas, was born in 1967 not long after the family moved into the Northcote Avenue house that would be their home for the remainder of Trevor’s life.
Parties
Chris Simmonds said: “At the College of Commerce, my father taught students from more than 70 countries, many of whom would attend the legendary end-of-year parties at the family home.
“He was also one of the founding members of the original Aberdeen Food and Wine Society and a member of the British Association of the Experiment in International Living, helping to develop greater understanding between citizens of the world.”
World travel
When he retired from the college, Trevor was invited by Trinity College, London, to become one of their international examiners, which took him all over the world.
In retirement, Trevor and Irene stepped up their own travels. They celebrated Trevor’s 80th birthday in Cuba, their 50th country. They went on to visit the Azores and travelled the Silk Road to Samarkand.
In 2019, the couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
Trevor was also an avid supporter of classical music, opera, ballet and theatre.