Devon Cricket Board - Bill Shepherd dies after brief cancer fight

Bill Shepherd dies after brief cancer fight

Update: Bill Shepherd's funeral will take place at Instow Parish Church (noon) this Friday (January 29).

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21

FORMER Devon all-rounder Bill Shepherd, who played for the county between 1962-69, has died after a short illness. He was 70.

   Shepherd (pictutred) 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.
   Bill Shepherd, who never married, was an all-round sportsman in a similar mould to his better-known brother.
   An all-round sportsman Bill He 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 agbo.
   During his post office years Bill continued playing cricket for North Devon CC and Devon, achieving many fine performances with bat and ball. Click here to see Bill's record for Devon on the Cricket Archive website
   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.”
  Bill's funeral (see top of page) will be followed by a reception at the Commodore Hotel on the sea front at Instow.

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