Mr. Simon D Alie

On Tuesday 20^th July 2021, Mr. Simon D Alie (also known as Alie by his colleagues, family and friends) of Salisbury, Commonwealth of Dominica died at the age of 89.

Alie was born in Petite Soufriere, Dominica, to Minetta Alie (nee Coipel) and Apaulinere Alie. He met his first wife, Rhoda Quashie of Salisbury while working in Guadeloupe. Both would later move to the United Kingdom where they got married and went on to have 6 children, Michael, Elizabeth, Yvette, Lloyd, Tony and Alan.

Alie endured many obstacles during the early years, as was typical of the Windrush generation. But the challenges of his early childhood left him well equipped to overcome these obstacles, both physical and psychological.  He was part of a pilot project at the Ford Motor Company in Dagenham which was used to assess the ability of the newcomers from the Commonwealth countries, to work effectively on the car assembly line. The pilot project was wildly successful, which led to a massive influx of new workers from the Caribbean into the Ford facility in Dagenham.  Alie was very proud of his contribution to dispelling some of the myths, and opening the door at Fords for other Black workers.

Following the untimely death of his first wife in 1980, Alie met and married Ural Rolle of Laudat in 1985; they were married for 35 years.

Alie spent 31 years working for the Ford Motor Company in Dagenham, performing multiple jobs of increasing complexity, until his retirement.

Alie returned from England in 1996 and settled in Salisbury, until his death. Alie was a keen gardener, and when he returned to the Caribbean, he continued his interest in gardening and could always be found tending his garden. He was a keen practitioner of organic farming.

Alie is preceded in death by his mother, father, brother Philbert and sisters Katherine (known as Ena), and Justine (known as Elliotine). He is survived by his wife Ural, 6 children from his first marriage, 8 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Funeral details will be posted at a later date.