Hi George,
have you tried searching this site's PRs ? I appreciate you say you don't know much, but you must have more idea than we do about his probable age, or close family, etc etc (so far we know nothing of this).
On this site there are 25 "James Simmons" PRs, although there will be many more under the various spelling vairations such as Symonds etc that might well apply too !. Do any of these look likely to be him ?
http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?mode=page&id=2

ps of course thats assuming he was a James ?.
I had a favourite Uncle who was known as Jim. I was astonished to discover he was Christened William.... "Jim" was the nearest his older sister could get to saying his name when he was born, and it stuck with him for life !

atb Jeff

ps you don't have a Brenda Simmons in your family by any chance do you, at secondary school in Berry Hill area late 50s/early 60s ?