PLANS for a replacement memorial stone for the sister of Okehampton’s greatest benefactor are well under way.

The monument was recently shaped and engraved.

The Sophia Simmons memorial lies within the family plot in the churchyard of All Saints Parish Church, next to the grave of Sydney Simmons, the Victorian benefactor of he town.

Okehampton Town Council put forward a new design to the Diocese of Exeter several weeks ago because the memorial had deteriorated.

The new replacement headstone has been engraved by F J Stevens of Crediton and will be installed in the very near future.

Sydney Simmons was born in the 1830s in Okehampton and spent the early years of his life in the town, later giving it its park, castle and a number of almshouses.

His sister, Sophia, was born on August 10, 1829 and died on June 25, 1869, aged 39.

Okehampton Town Council clerk Paul Snell said: ‘The gravestone has deteriorated over a number of years and the town council decided to have a replacement headstone made, in order to mark the significant and positive effect that the Simmons family had on Okehampton. 

‘We hope that the headstone will be sited back in the Simmons plot of the old cemetery within the next couple of weeks.’