Passionate, Eternal Optimist, Driven Achiever
After hearing so many wonderful things about Simon the other day, and the fact I’ve been meaning to write something like this down for a while, I figure it’s now or never.
A few words about Simon: ‘Passionate, Eternal Optimist, Driven Achiever’.
These are the words Simon choose to describe himself in our ‘Meet a Member‘ questions a few years ago. I don’t think I know anyone who would disagree with any of these words.
For me Simon always came across as a decent guy, kind and caring and it was these characteristics that made me a fan of Simon and his work, the fact he was damned good looking was an added bonus.
I’ve always believed you can tell a lot about a person about what others think of them or what they think of others. I remember talking to Simon in a theater and there was an old man with severe hunch behind me, Simon suddenly said ‘oh my god that poor man’, I’d never seen anyone look so concerned and it was for someone he didn’t even know. I also never heard Simon say a bad word about anyone.
From a fans viewpoint Simon is an excellent role model, honest, hard-working and happily married for over 20 years. Mimicking is the highest form of adoration and if more people were like Simon then the world would be a better place for everyone.
I always felt I knew a different Simon to his friends and family, I felt I only really knew the guy off the telly (Harry, Peter, Jonathan, Greg) although there were times where you could see Simon himself in interviews and in person. Even if it was just a minute Simon tried to give time to his fans, by having photo’s taken, signing autographs or just by talking with a fan. He always had a way of making you feel relaxed and he would try to talk to everyone waiting for him outside a stage door and make them feel important.
I miss Simon, but in someway I know that part of the person I knew I can never forget as all I have to do it dig out a DVD and there he is, smiling, laughing and joking. I also know that in decades from now probably around Christmas or Easter I’ll turn on a TV and there will be a 25 year old Simon on my TV in Death on the Nile and all the memories, if they’re not still at the front of my mind, will come pouring back. I don’t think I’ll ever be a fan of anyone the same way I am of Simon, he is someone I’ll never ever forgot, and I’m glad I got a chance to know him.