Simon David Moore Everton arrived on the 22nd February 1952 in the middle of a sandstorm in Moascar, Egypt.  He was the elder son of Donald, a major in the Royal Artillery, and Jane, a physiotherapist. At school, he was precociously bright with an impressively high level of intellect which became even more obvious when he was almost immediately awarded a scholarship followed in due course by top A levels in Classics and then an exhibition to Brasenose College Oxford in 1969 where he studied Juris Prudence. 

Conspicuous academic success was achieved on an enviably effortless basis thereby releasing time for the pursuit of more enjoyable activities such as sports,- particularly rugby, hockey, and cricket, literature, music, and friendships.  He inherited kindness and generosity from his parents but could be fiercely argumentative if he felt the cause was worth pursuing and was contemptuous of feeble efforts to obstruct him.   Simon possessed a way with words that enabled him to communicate with precision.  He could express himself so that complex concepts were reduced to simple sentences.  That capability arose from the fact that he was extraordinarily well-read. 

After Oxford, Simon became a shipbroker. His intelligence, his professionalism, and his wonderfully open and friendly nature made him someone to whom people warmed immediately and he became a well-known and highly respected broker on the Baltic Exchange. In the early 2000’s he reinvented himself, returning to the law as an expert witness and then shipping arbitrator. 

Coming from a close and happy family background himself, it was no surprise that Simon placed so much emphasis on the welfare of his own family.  Indeed, the love and support provided to him by Susanna and Guy gave him a hugely solid foundation on which to build a life so rich in multi-faceted friendships.  While he was a confirmed London resident, Simon was never happier than with Susanna and Guy in Norfolk relaxing away from the stress of work and enjoying the opportunity of a more peaceful and contemplative environment.  He was also an excellent cook, enjoying the whole process from food selection at the shops or market to the preparation and service; he was knowledge in the selections of appropriate wines and was never happier than with a glass of something in his hand.

It was the consistent display of all those lovely personal values that made him stand out as a wonderful husband, father, brother and friend.  His steadfastness, his kind sympathetic ear, his ready exuberance and his self-deprecating humour meant that he was someone special to all those who knew him. He died after a long ill ness on 12th November 2016.