Sir John Simeon was a landowner who owned a substantial amount of land including St John's Estate in Ryde as well as owning Swainston Manor. The land on which St John's Church was built in the years 1842-43 was given by Sir John. In addition Ryde Cemetery was also built on land leased from him in 1858.

The memorial has the inscription "SIR JOHN SIMEON, BART., M.P. OF SWAINSTON AND ST JOHN'S IN THIS ISLAND BORN FEB.... 1815, DIED MAY 21 1870, A MAN GREATLY BELOVED TO WHOSE MEMORY EVER HONOURED AND CHERISHED .... ERECTED BY MANY FRIENDS ...."