Robert Simon (diver)

Robert Simon (born June 23, 1913 in Roulans , † August 14, 2000 ) was a pastor of Saône (Doubs) in France, who was known for organizing tower jumps .

Life

Simon's father died in the First World War in 1917. He and his two brothers grew up with their mother in Besançon . Simon had already started diving as a child. At the age of ten he jumped from a 10 meter high railway bridge in Besançon in the Doubs . Later, while serving with the 506th Panzer Regiment in Besançon, he jumped from a height of 20 meters.

Simon first studied philosophy, in 1933 he began studying theology. In 1934 he completed his military service. He was ordained a priest on June 29, 1938. On August 15, 1944, he came to his small parish in Saône. There he had to look after 700 souls and take care of an old, dilapidated church. He made plans and calculations for this church. In order to restore and enlarge it, however, he needed a sum of around 70,000 francs (4,000 euros). In 1947 he went to his bishop, the Archbishop of Besançon, and told him about his idea of ​​filling his church treasury by organizing tower jumps. The archbishop gave the young clergyman permission for his project.

In August 1951, sporting events took place in Villers-le-Lac in the Doubstal valley. International diving was also planned and the appearance of an unknown high diver who would jump from a height of 35 meters was announced. The swaying tower was 30 meters high. After a short overcoming - Simon had never jumped from such a height before - he jumped off. He had gotten off badly and had to turn around to improve his situation and avoid the danger of landing on his stomach. The jump was successful.

With the money that Simon earned, he was able to make makeshift repairs to his church. But he had also started other work, most notably a chapel for religious instruction, and dreamed of an electric bell. Therefore, he had to continue his sports demonstrations. At the Paris fair he saw a metal diving tower 35 meters high. He bought it for 200,000 francs and paid that amount in three monthly installments. He also hired a tightrope walker and bought a trumpet. Each performance cost 100,000 francs. The tickets cost 100 francs. So that only meant income when there were more than 1000 spectators. Within a year he risked his life seven times by jumping from the 35 meter high tower. He made a profit of 100,000 Francs (DM 12,000). By 1962 he had made more than 110 tower jumps from a height of over 30 meters.

Web links

• Documentary film about Robert Simon (French)
• Serge Pautot: L'Abbe Robert Simon (1913–2000) (French; PDF; 292 kB)