‘Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace …’ Fred Stafford finished accompanying the canticle at the mission in Duckinfield near Manchester and decided he liked the name Simeon, so his new born son was christened Simeon Stafford.

Simeon had a happy childhood and a sympathetic art teacher at school, Owen Trainer, who encouraged Simeon greatly during his formative years. Above all he had a father, who took him to art galleries in Manchester to see the Old Masters and any other interesting paintings available. Simeon was very talented at art and was soon producing work of a high standard. He was also very musical and was especially interested in composition. It was touch and go which talent would determine his future. Luckily for us, Simeon decided to become a painter.

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