Towards the end of Golden's life he was interviewed by Cyril Jeffries

Presently I was seated chatting to Mr Golden Simpson. His grandfather is buried in Holy Trinity Churchyard. James Simpson, who was town crier for Colchester was Mr Simpson's uncle. Talking of boyhood days, Mr Simpson mentioned the names of Herbert and Edward Nice, whose father kept 'The Plough'; Jonah Peachey, Edgar Mason and George Thompson, with whom he went to school at West Mersea, where Mr John Thorpe was the headmaster. 'We used to walk three and a half miles to school, starting at eight in the morning' said Mr Simpson who went on to relate how as a boy he used to drive his father's geese round the roads feeding them on gosling weed. Mr Simpson has vivid memories of the 1884 earthquake. 'There wasn't a chimney standing' he said, and he went on to tell me how when he reached the doctor's surgery with an injured man the surgery was so badly damaged that the man could not receive treatment and had to be taken to the Rector's, where his wound was dressed. 'Bricklayers came from as far afield as Wales' said Mr Simpson as he continued to talk of the work of the restoration. He called to mind Peldon Mill standing opposite to the 'Rose' and William Went the miller, and William Christmas and George Claydon who worked there. A parish councillor at the institution of this body, Mr Simpson remembered names of the other Councillors - Messrs W G Fairhead, F Nice, George Pullen, and W B Clark. Mr Fairhead was chairman and Mr G Mason clerk. Your Essex No 30 At Peldon by Cyril R Jeffries 1935/36

A picture of Uncle James Simpson, Colchester's town crier

This interview above was probably just before Golden's wife of 42 years died.

DEATH OF MRS SIMPSON Much sympathy is extended to Mr Golden Charles Simpson who, himself in poor health for twelve months has sustained the loss of his wife, Emma Jane, who passed away at their residence, Barnard's Cottage [Peldon] on Monday at the age of 74. The deceased was the eldest daughter of the late John Harvey, whose family has been known in Peldon for several generations, her sister and three of her brothers being at present resident in the village. Essex County Standard 21.3.1936

Golden died in 1939 and in his obituary from the Essex County Standard (it also appeared in the Chelmsford Chronicle) more details of his life emerged

USEFUL LIFE CLOSED

The village has lost a much respected inhabitant in the person of Mr Golden Charles Simpson who passes away on Tuesday at the age of 75 years. The deceased was a native of Peldon, and son of the late Charles Simpson, a vegetable and fish salesman. On leaving school, he started work with the late Mr Wood of Mersea Road, and eventually set up for himself as a bricklayer and chimney sweep. His marriage to Miss Emma Jane Harvey took place in 1906[1895 in Peldon Church] and they spent the whole of their married life at Barnard's Cottage, where she died three years ago. Mr Simpson took great interest in village affairs, and until too ill to attend the meetings, was a member of the Parish Council. In politics he was a staunch conservative and it was always his house which was used as headquarters pending a general election. He was gifted with a marvellous memory which served the community as an information bureau, and when the date of a bygone event was wanted it was the custom to 'go and ask Golden'. He was also of a generous disposition, being happy when buying sweets for children or tobacco for old men, and when some 20 years back an epidemic of influenza broke out, and those who escaped numbered only about half a dozen, it was Golden who went from house to house doing neighbourly turns in feeding fowls and fetching milk. He will be greatly missed by many friends who visited him during his long illness, and much sympathy is extended to his bachelor brother, Charles, the two never having been parted. Essex County Standard 25.3.1939

Golden's brother was to outlive him by eight years

The village has recently suffered the loss of ... Mr Charles Simpson, second son of the late Charles Simpson, [he]had spent the whole of his life in Peldon, for many years carrying on the business of a dealer, and he and his pony were well-known in the district. In June he would allow himself a change of occupation, and when the pea-picking season was in full swing in the late Mr Fairhead's fields it was Charlie who tied the bags. He was of a kindly disposition and uncomplaining, although for the last eight years he lived alone. He was particularly grateful for the ministrations of Mrs Small, a distant relative and near neighbour, who covered many miles in journeys to and fro. The funeral took place at the Parish Church, the Rev J R Wilson officiating. Essex County Standard 18.7.1947

These biographical details however can't fully convey the men's characters and for this we turn to the book Toasted Cheese and Cinders by Mersea author, Sybil Brand. She was born in 1899 and the following were her childhood memories.

But the men who delighted the whole village with their quips were Golden and Charlie Simpson. Golden was lame, so he sat in the cart and shouted; in fact they both shouted. With no cars no buses no aeroplanes it was not surprising their voices carried a long way.
'My legs ain't much good, but, thank God, I've got a good tongue' said Golden. From front to back of the cart was a wooden rail hung with rabbits or rabbit skins when sales were made. You got a rabbit for tenpence skinned if Charlie kept the skin. We knew the skins were sold to make seal coney coats.
Charlie did the work and bought and sold anything eatable, whelks (two cousins of mine made pocket money selling whelks to him by courtesy of their father), shrimps, peas, rabbits, cherries or plums.
'The butcher's enemy' he'd shout, selling pease 'better 'athout meat than some are with.'
When trade wasn't brisk he'd inform passers-by he was 'selling faster than lawyers go to Heaven'.
Sometimes the buyer's identity was broadcast. 'Sold again to a lady. Keeps two cats and a billy goat' Everyone knew this meant the school governess.
Charlie wasn't fussy about hygiene. If his cherries spilt they'd be picked up. Sitting by the roadside brushing the dust off them, he'd shout at the top of his voice, 'All juice and no pip'.
A lady visitor, an entire stranger, bought some plums and his rich imagination soon furnished her with a history.
'Sold again to a clergyman's daughter'. She hurried away, blushing at the publicity.
If a pegged rug wanted a touch of red to brighten it, Charlie would produce a soldier's red coat for a shilling. It was a joy to see a stingy buyer meet his match here. The two of them wouldn't agree as to price. Charlie would give the the customer a long considering look.
'There's nawthen' the matter with you, Sir, only you're too good'
Then came the subtle thrust.
'I'd rather give 'em to you than sell 'em to some people.'

Elaine Barker
Peldon History Project

Peldon History Project
More Peldon History.