Oliver Simmonds was born in 1898 and was ten years old when his father, the Rev. Frederick Simmonds was appointed Romford’s Congregational Church Minister. The family lived in Western Road in Romford and the church stood in nearby South Street.

Romford at that time, had no boys secondary school so Oliver was sent off to boarding school by his father who continued to campaign for suitable local educational opportunities.

In 1916 Oliver was planning to study history at Cambridge, but first, it was his duty to fight in the first world war and he became a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps, later the RAF.

A small man he flew ‘spotter’ planes observing enemy movements. Unlike most fighter pilots, who were often killed in combat, Oliver survived the war and became something of an aircraft enthusiast and switched subjects at Cambridge and went on to gain an Engineering degree.

On graduating, he worked at Britain’s Aircraft Research Establishment at Farnborough, before joining a team creating the elegant Supermarine racing seaplane. Oliver’s part in the design included sitting on the floor leaning against a sheet of plywood, while his outline was drawn on the wood, making a matrix for the cockpit. Later, the designer, R.J. Mitchell developed the seaplane into the Supermarine Spitfire, Britain’s famous wartime fighter plane. By this time Simmonds had established his own company and, keen on detail, he focused on small items – screws and levers – which could be mass-produced as standard fittings for all types of aircraft.

In 1931, he became a conservative MP and following a visit to Hitlers Germany, he warned parliament in 1937 that Britain’s air defences were inadequate, a warning heeded by Winston Churchill who totally supported him. Simmonds also further campaigned for air-raid precautions: shelters and gas masks to protect civilians against Nazi bombers.

He was knighted in 1944, lost his parliamentary seat at the 1945 election, but went on to live to the age of 87 and died in 1985.

If you live in, or originate from the wonderful county of Essex, then the next time you see anything referring to the Spitfire, you can remember with a sense of pride, that the cockpit was literally designed around a Romford man.

Simmonds was a man who had, through his godly upbringing, developed a heart to do all that was in his power and capabilities to protect the lives of those in his county and his country.

The Apostle Paul wrote these words in respect of those whose heart was to serve:

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labour in vain. (Philippians 2:12-16)

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