7 up - symon Basterfield

7 - When we met Symon for the first time he was in an orphanage in the east end of London. Symon was a quiet kid and his speech isn't very clear. Symon says he is happy living at the orphanage. Symon is the only child in the 7 up series with a mixed back round.

14 - When Symon was 13 he moved back in with his mother, but mentions he was happier in the orphanage. he also says the poorer people are missing some things in there life, when asked what he is missing he says ' a bike and a fishing rod'.

21 -  Symon is quite comfortable living at home with his mother, his relationship with his mother isn't a 'normal' relationship he says there more friends than family, and Symon is comfortable with that.


28 - Symon got married and had 5 kids!! he says "they have everything, they have a father". Symon is comfortable with where his life has at the moment, Symon is still working at the freezer factory, he says he could get a better job, a builder but he is happy where he is.

35 - Symon didn't appear in 35 up.

42 - When Symon agreed to join the documentary again, he tells us he had divorced, and remarried a lady called Vienetta, Venetta  had her own daughter before she met Symon. Symon and Vienetta have a son together. Symon only sees 3 of his 5 children from his first marriage because of his first break up. Symon broke the only promise that should've meant the most to him; not to leave his children without a father.  Symon has 2 grandchildren but only has contact with one of them. when Symon was 35 his mother died due to cancer, Symon regrets not telling her he loved her. Symon also regrets not tyring harder with his academics, he quotes  " I was a lazy sod, who didn't have any desire to try harder".


49 - Between the ages of 42 and 49 Symon and his wife became foster parents. The freezer factory closed down, and Symon found a new job at an airport. Often teenagers run away and find themselves at the air port not knowing where to go, Symon and Vienetta take these kids in and look after them as long as they need, sometimes its two nights and sometimes it 2 months. Symon is more relaxed than he ever was since the age of 7.

Throughout the series Symon was always appreciative of life and 'took things one day at a time'.Symon was often reserved, this may be due to his upbringing within the orphanage. Symon still catches up with his life long time friend Paul, they were both brought up in the same orphanage. It's interesting that both Symon and Paul marry strong woman because they are insecure from their childhood.