IT was a day of mixed emotions for survivors of Warren Simmons, the late Bermuda sports administrator, former president of Somerset Cricket Club, Inc., who in his heyday was the longest serving captain of the club’s Cup Match team. He was one of the founding members and former president of the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control, and three times honoured with medals by the Queen.

Saturday, June 30, was the day the Bermuda Government had set aside to immortalise Mr. Simmons by renaming after him the old Royal Naval Cricket Field, now known as the Warren Simmons Community Field.

It turned out to be the day of the funeral of the eldest of his four children, Mrs. Enid Simons, who in her own right was hailed as one of the pillars of the Somerset community.

Aged 90, she was eulogised as one who had followed in her father’s footsteps, being a cricketer, supporter of every West End institution, its sports clubs, businesses, schools and first woman chairperson of St. James Church vestry.

Most of the large crowd attending the rites for Mrs. Simons went directly to the nearby Naval Field where others had earlier gathered for the renaming. The ceremony was part of Government’s policy of signally honouring Bermudians for their marked public service.K>There<$> was much that was synonymous about the field and Mr. Simmons. It was the site of the very first game of the Somerset-St. George’s Cup Match in 1902; and five years later it was there Warren made his debut for SCC in Cup Match. Warren, who was also nicknamed Bo’sun represented SCC in the annual classic continuously until his retirement from the sport in 1932, serving as Cup Match captain during the last 14 years of his career. He also led Bermuda teams abroad during that period.

Mr. Simmons was enormously proud of the fact that his son Lloyd and his grandson Randy Horton, the Minister of Education, Sport and Recreation, also captained SCC.

As an administrator, firstly treasurer and then 20 years as president, Mr. Simmons was most influential in the purchase of the current SCC grounds and construction of its club house, opened in 1949. He passed away on January 21, 1981.

Among the participants in the renaming event were Ven. Archdeacon Dr. Arnold Hollis, Minister of Works & Engineering Dennis Lister, Minister of Education & Sports, Mr. Horton, SCC president Richard Scott and president of Willow Cuts Cricket Club Richard Fubler.

In addition to honouring Mr. Simmons, the field was also designated by Government as the home of the Willow Cuts CC. Mr. Fubler gave an assurance his club would do all in its power to enhance the legacy of Mr. Simmons.

Director of Youth & Sport Norbert Simmons was master of ceremonies. A great-granddaughter of Mr. Simmons, Camille-Simmons Evans, outlined his biographMrs<$>. Dorothea (Peggy) Horton and her brother Allen Simmons, the last two survivors of Mr. Simmons’ four children, voiced appreciation to the Government on behalf of the Horton, Simmons and Simons families. “My father was an avid sportsman, who loved tennis, football and of course, cricket was his greatest love,” said Mrs. Horton.

“I am so happy we celebrate the naming of this field on the same day we’re celebrating the life of our dear sister (Enid). The two occasions add so much to the importance of the day in the lives of our families.”

“This field was my father’s playground. As a child I remember him captaining Somerset to many a Cup Match victory. Of course, St. George’s won a few, but I do not remember much of those,” she joked.

“Naming this field after my father is special for many reasons. My grandfather lived in a house at the very spot where SCC stands, and renaming the Naval Field makes a symbolic connection with the start of the Cup Match here in 1902.

“Warren loved everything about Somerset, and I am sure he is smiling down on us today.”

Our photos show the unveiling of the sign citing the old Royal Naval Cricket Field bordering the main road in Somerset as the Warren Simmons Community Field and home of the Willow Cuts Cricket Club. From the left (below)<\p>are Willow Cuts president Richard Fubler; Warren’s grandson, Sports Minister Randy Horton, Warren’s daughter Peggy Simmons Horton and her brother Allen Simmons, Works & Engineering Minister Dennis Lister and SCC president Richard Scott. Allen Simmons, incidentally, made his forte in tennis, and is the hon. life vice-president of the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association. Inset (top) are Warren Simmons and his late daughter Mrs. Enid Simons.