• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

Sir Oliver Edwin Simmonds

Dinger

Dinger

master brummie
I'm researching an essay on Sir Oliver Edward {Edit - Edwin] Simmonds who served as an MP for Birmingham's Duddeston ward from 1931 through to 1945. A fascinating bloke who "reinvented" himself many times. He served as a fighter pilot in World War One, then trained as an engineer and did pioneering research on high-speed flight. He joined Supermarine and his design input helped win the Schneider trophy. Then he started up his own company to build aircraft and had modest success before it was combined with SARO company. As an inventor and entrepreneur, he built up this world-spanning "Simmonds Aerocessories". - It was once said that every aircraft flying in the West during the 1950s and 60s contained parts made by the Simmonds group. Any engineers out there will be familiar with the "Simmonds Nut" used as a locking nut (called a "Nylar" nut in the USA and increasingly here). After WW2, he sold his business interests and set himself up in the Bahamas. I think I've trawled everything easily found on the internet about him. I wondered if there was anyone out there who could add anything about his time as a MP for Duddeston, or his association with the Accles and Shelvoke company of Birmingham?
 
Last edited:
OOOPs ! Sorry,- Yes, thats the fellah! Edited - thanks!
 

Attachments

  • CptMainwaring.jpg
    CptMainwaring.jpg
    13.1 KB · Views: 2
  • Appreciate
Reactions: MWS
Article written at long last- At the link below. If anyone has any other info on Sir Oliver Simmonds and his association with Birmingham, please get in touch. In particular it would be great to know what Birmingham companies subcontracted to produce goods for Simmonds Aerocessories.

About Simmonds Aerocessories

www.dingeraviation.net www.dingeraviation.net
 
Cheers - As I said in my original post, back in 2023, I've trawled everything I can find on the internet (at least everything that isn't behind a paywall). Some of the stuff out there about him is inaccurate anyway. In my article you'll find a link to the Hansard website that records every speech he made in Parliament.
 
Cheers Mikejee - That story about him "assaulting" the kids was not something I was aware of - What date was that?
 
AH yes - Quite early in his career when he would have still been working for Supermarine - Brilliant bit of extra info. Thanks for that.
 
At a luncheon in celebration of his knighthood at the Grand, March 1944. Doesn’t mention the work done by hard-working Brummies.

“This was the industry, developed by private enterprise, which had given the Roval Air Force the tools with which it saved civilisation. In due season. when the present job was done, this whole question could be fought out with sleeres rolled up. Until then Mr. Morrison should be less provocative.”

IMG_0623.jpeg
 
Oliver Simmonds was Conservative MP for Duddeston from 1931 to 1945. He lost his seat in the Labour landslide of 1945.
His seat was taken by the first woman MP for Birmingham, Edith Wills.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top