[1] Simon was educated at Durham University, gaining his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Geography 1967.
[2] He then attended the University of Sussex, where he gained his Master of Arts (MA) in 1968, before going on to train for the ministry at Cuddesdon College from 1969.
[1] He was ordained a deacon on 26 September 1971 (by Eric Knell, Bishop of Reading, at St John's Reading)[3] and a priest around Michaelmas 1972 (by Kenneth Woollcombe, Bishop of Oxford, at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford).
In 1978, he took his first incumbency, becoming Vicar of Frodsham until 1988, when he moved to Easthampstead, where he served as Rector for twelve years — during which time he also studied with the University of Sheffield, being awarded his Master in Ministry and Theology (MMinTheol) in 1994.
[1] Simon retired from all his posts effective 1 September 2010[5] and moved abroad to become Director of Studies for the Diocese of Mauritius.