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Posted:
Thursday 21st January 2010
Source: Stephen Birley
FORMER Devon all-rounder Bill Shepherd, who
played for the county between 1962-69, died
after a short illness. He was in his early 70s.
Shepherd was the older brother of David
Shepherd, the North Devon cricketer who went on
to play for Gloucestershire and gain fame as a
Test match umpire. David Shepherd died in late
October last year after fighting cancer for more
than a year. Now brother Bill has died of the
same disease.
Bill went to see his doctor over Christmas,
complaining that he felt unwell. A body scan
revealed cancer of the liver, He died on
Tuesday, January 19 shortly before midnight.
An all-round sportsman Bill played rugby for
South Molton and football for Bideford. He also
played hockey and was a more than a useful darts
and skittles player. He wasn’t the world’s worst
golfer either.
The one sport Bill excelled in above all others
was cricket. In the late 1950s early 1960s Bill
was on the Lord’s ground staff as a young and
promising batsman and left-arm spinner. He
scored a 100 at Lords for the MCC Young
Professionals, a feat many cricketers only dream
about. In 1959 the two brothers played against
each other, David for English Schools and Bill
representing MCC Young Professionals.
Bill returned to his Instow home in the early
1960s to help run the family business with his
mother Dolly.
The post office was the hub of the village with
Bill its mainstay until his retirement five
years ago. During his post office years Bill
continued playing cricket for North Devon CC and
Devon, achieving many fine performances with bat
and ball.
During the last few years Bill umpired the
seconds and thirds where his decision making was
on a par with David’s.
Colin Payne, the North Devon club chairman said:
“It is very sad news to hear that Bill Shepherd
has passed away. I'm sure all those who knew
Bill will be as saddened as I am by this news. A
super cricketer and a great bloke - he will be
missed by us all. This is a double blow for the
club so soon after the death of David. Our
thoughts go David’s wife Jenny, who has lost a
husband and brother in law in such a short space
of time.”
No funeral details have been arranged at the
time of writing.
The thoughts of all the Bradninch CC cricketing
family are with the Shepherd family at this sad
time.
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