5 June 1959 – 26 January 2026
We are sad to let you know that Simon Pike died late last night or early this morning, here at home, in Newton Dee. Simon was recovering from a serious operation and seemed to be recovering well over the last days.
Simon lived with his family in Clevedon, near Bristol and attended St Christophers School in Bristol, prior to coming to Newton Dee. His parents, Barbara and Derek, were close to him and missed him when he moved to Scotland, but at the same time accepting that Simon was beginning to make his own life here in Aberdeen.
Simon came to live in Newton Dee in October 1979 at the age of 20 years. He came as a fit young man and joined the Newton Dee Land Teams and lived in Morven House, working on Morven Farm and later moving to the Farmhouse. At that time most of the dairy farmers lived in the Farmhouse, maintaining a house community that was strongly connected to the rhythms and seasons of the work on the land and with the daily needs of the farm animals, particularly the dairy herd which required early morning starts to the day. In his early years on Morven Farm, Simon learned to work with the goats, pigs and chickens, later developing his skills on the dairy farm in the centre of the village. After 15 years of working on the land, Simon said that he was not so keen to continue working on the land in winter. He then chose to work part of the time inside and spent some years in the bakery (nice and warm!) and in the toy workshop.
Simon developed into a man who could be relied upon, both at home by his friends and in his daily work on the farm. Simon always had a good group of friends and took active part in the social cultural life of the community. He took pride in his appearance and would attend most Sunday morning services in the Michael Chapel, better dressed than most of us! He enjoyed his free time and would regularly go alone or with a friend into Aberdeen at the weekend. He enjoyed photography and in earlier years could often be seen with a pair of binoculars around his neck, especially when out on his nature walks. He also liked music and would regularly return home from town with his latest addition to his CD collection.
Simon also enjoyed his trips abroad, especially when his father moved to Canada. He was able to travel independently to Ontario for those occasions. In addition, holiday group trips to Turkey, France and Greece gave him the opportunity to use his camera and binoculars, to walk and to explore.
In 2007, Simon moved to live in Vega, a flat beside the Toy Workshop and was attached to the Gate Lodge. There Simon enjoyed the opportunity to live more independently with a couple of friends but still integrated into the Gate Lodge household with his friends, some of who he had known for many years, In later years he moved into Cassiopeia House, enjoying the advantage of this new spacious house and the proximity of his friends and additional support when he needed it. In 2023, Simon moved to Avalon house and quickly settled into the house. Simon developed medical issues that needed recent major surgery. It was during this period of recovery at home in Avalon house that he died unexpectedly during in the night or early this morning.
Simon has been another of those unassuming people who have become an important member of our community. In his quiet way, he has helped to create the foundation on which we continue to develop our community today. We will all miss him, but especially those who lived and worked with him over the 46 years that he has lived here and contributed to our daily life in so many ways.
Thank you Simon, we will try to maintain the levels of reliability, faithfulness and friendship that you have shown us for over four decades of an active life in Newton Dee.
Alan Brown
On behalf of all of us at Newton Dee Monday 26 January 2026
Funeral Arrangements
Thursday 29 January
2.00 pm First part of the funeral service in the Newton Dee Chapel for invited people only
2.45 pm Second part of the service in the Michael Chapel for everybody
Following the service we are all invited to follow the hearse up to Gate Lodge to bid Simon farewell
This will be followed by the Memorial Gathering which will be held in the Phoenix Community Centre.