Shepherd, Richard (1894-1965)

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Richard Shepherd

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Shepherd Family circa 1920

This is a picture taken of Richard Shepherd taken with his parents Sarah Jane (Jennie or Ginnie) James Shepherd (Jimmie) sister Rosina Annie Shepherd (Annie) in the nurse uniform, sister Prudence Nellie, standing. This picture was given to Polly and Herbert Deakin of 193 Church Road, Stockingford, Nuneaton, date unkown but now thought to be around 1920 as Richard entered the ministery in 1919.

It has hung on my gran and grandad’s wall for over 60 years (I am 61 and always remember it) My aunt age 96 could remember all of there christian names but not the surnames. Positively identified in October 2014, by Peggy Miller nee Wardle of Pelsall and Iris Sharrot, nee Clarke both relatives of Richard or Dick as he was more affectionately known.

Also shown is a portrait of Richard.

Editors Note:

Richard was born in 1894 at Pelsall, Staffordshire, to parents James and Sarah. James was a coal miner. The 1911 census also describes Richard as working underground as a motor driver.

Richard was educated at Pelsall Elementary School and Walsall Technical School.

Leary identifies his stations as follows.

• 1919 Hull VI
• 1920 Hartley
• 1922 Dartmouth
• 1923 Crewe II
• 1926 Mexborough
• 1931 Tetney
• 1932 Chesterfield III
• 1936 Alford
• 1940 Gainsborough
• 1944 Stoke Hanley
• 1948 Bournemouth
• 1951 Leintwardine
• 1958 Leintwardine (S)

His obituary can be found in the Methodist Minutes of Conference 1966 p187. It records that owing to his wife’s poor health he retired early in 1958, remaining in the Leintwardine Circuit and serving it faithfully in the pulpits up to the time of his death. He was a faithful pastor and evangelistic in his preaching. He took a keen interest in young people and served as District Sunday School Scripture examination secretary while in Chesterfield. In his latter circuits, Richard was deeply interested in the “Youth for Christ” movement, arranging many evangelistic services.

A brief family history search identifies that Richard married Emma Jane Beatrice Wootton (1897-1963) in the summer of 1923 in the Cannock Registration District.

References

W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers