The German name "Simon" would be pronounced like the English sound of "Simone". So your memory is obviously working! I think what he was making was "Quark", which has always been quite popular here.
So you know Peppard Road in Caversham? I used to know it well in the seventies, when I worked at Borocourt, near Peppard. I spent many happy hours at the nurses home - and I am not saying any more than that!