My quiet Saturday evening was turned upside down when I learned, with a combination of great shock and profound sadness, of the passing of Simon Jordan.

I first met Simon several years ago on a beach clean in West Bay and was immediately struck by his passion and generosity of spirit, and we immediately became friends with a shared passion for improving the environment we all inhabit.

Simon was both a gentleman and a gentle man, larger than life, generous with his time for others and above all an inspiration to all he came in contact with. All he wanted to do was to do good and as he did so he inspired others to join him.

Simon’s life dramatically changed on the 16th March 2016 when he was thrown into a prison cell measuring 10ft x 10ft. “I was so tired of faking it until I made it and the universe sent me so many messages to wake up, but I just kept ignoring them until that day in March when I had all my freedom taken away from me. I look back now and see that as the best gift ever”

He ran a successful digital marketing agency helping coaches and consultants from across the globe and teaching them the same philosophy as that outlined in his latest book ‘Simplicity of Success – Life in Flow’. In the book, he shares a very powerful blueprint to success. It lays out in a very effective, easy to read way, all the areas where you can make a change in order to succeed.

In 2017 Simon founded and ran 5ThingsClear https://www.5thingsclear.com/, a movement that has inspired so many people to stem the tide of plastic by simply collecting five pieces of litter at a time.

Only a few weeks ago I met Simon when on a visit to West Bay with my granddaughter. He was busy collecting litter that had been blown into the reeds beside the walkway to Rise and placing it in a bin close by. Many people had walked past it, some will have commented on it, but Simon did something about it – how typical of him.

Many local people got to know and love Simon through his morning swims which he loved. He swam to clear his head, to re-wild himself, to feel the coldness and the sense of being at one with the water, to see the birds fly over head and the sunlight glinting on the water. His book ‘Wild Swimming through lockdown’ documents the reasons those who regularly joined Simon for a morning swim do it; physical and mental wellbeing being, and the sheer joy and exhilaration it brings being the common theme running through it. Proceeds from the sale of the book were donated to the Harmony. Use this link to find out more: https://westbaywildswimmingbook.co.uk/

Simon was the stalwart who organised the monthly West Bay Beach Cleans and we worked together to expand this onto the rivers and streets of Bridport. Thanks to his encouragement and support I have been able to use my role as Mayor to bring many other people on board as active participants in the fight against casually discarded pollutants and the impact they have on our environments. Simon made litter picking fun, and I am grateful to him for showing me how it can be done in a manner that everyone can buy into.

Simon’s kindness knew no bounds and in October he raised £2,000 for a young mother who he happened to witness collapse and have a medical episode in a Morrisons store. While many walked past and some stopped to help, typically Simon went that extra mile and set off on a 24 hour,1000 mile sponsored motorcycle ride.

I can’t believe that it was as recently as October 2018 that Simon moved to West Bay. In those few years he made a huge impact on his community and his passing is a tragic loss. I send my condolences to his family and friends. I am going to miss you very much Simon and will continue to fight plastic pollution in your name.

You can help to ensure that Simon’s legacy lives on by gathering at the Watch House and taking part in a special beach clean being held in his honour on Sunday 2nd January from 10.00am.

A Time to Give

Christmas is upon us and the time for last minute shopping for presents and other essentials is rapidly running out. However, there is still time to make a donation to the Mayors Charity fund which this year is supporting local charities Harmony and The Living Tree.

You can gift your support by donating to the Mayor’s Charity fund by bank transfer to Bridport Town Council:

Bank: Barclays
Sort code: 20-26-62
Account no.: 80036552
Please quote the reference ‘Mayor’s Charity’.

or by cheque, made payable to Bridport Town Council. Please write ‘Mayor’s Charity’ on the reverse.
Please post or hand deliver to: Bridport Town Council, Mountfield, Rax Lane, Bridport, DT6 3JP.

And a reminder that if, like me, you are now of an age where you are in receipt of winter fuel allowance, a gift from the government, paid automatically during November and December to those eligible. The winter fuel allowance is an essential part of making the lives of some more bearable by enabling them to heat their homes without worrying, whilst for others it represents a free cherry on top of the icing on an already rich financial cake, please consider donating all or part of it using the methods outlined above.

And Finally

A little something to test your knowledge of Bridport. This years Mayor’s Christmas Quiz is here, an ‘oven ready’ brain teaser to share with friends and family before playing charades!

https://www.bridport-tc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/So-You-Think-You-Know-Bridport-2021-Questions-2.pdf

The answers will be available in my New Year blog. In the meantime I wish you a Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.