Council chairman dies

The chairman of Newark and Sherwood District Council, Mr Keith Sheppard, died peacefully at his home on Friday.

Mr Sheppard, 79, a district council member for Lowdham, was eight months into his one-year term of office as council chairman.

He had been ill for some time, but had returned to carry out his duties in the autumn despite the illness delaying his start to his civic duties.

Mr Sheppard served as the vice-chairman of the council for 2010/11. He was elected chairman by his fellow councillors at the council’s annual meeting in May.

He was originally from Edwinstowe and, after completing his education, he joined the RAF, serving for two years as a fitter on airframes.

On leaving the RAF he joined a company which manufactured rolling mills for the steel industry.

In 1971 he bought Knight’s Roses, a rose-growing company in Lowdham, which he ran for 36 years until his retirement in 1997.

Cricket was his big passion in life, and he played regularly until he was 68 for Edwinstowe, Lowdham, where he was a life member, and latterly, Thurgarton Cricket Club, where he volunteered as the club’s head groundsman.

He was on the committee of the South Notts Village League for 27 years.

He had been a member of Newark and Sherwood District Council for 21 years, serving on the council’s planning committee until his election as chairman of the council. He also served as chairman of the planning committee for six years.

He was a parish councillor in Lowdham for 28 years, serving as chairman for 24.

Mr Sheppard leaves his wife of 53 years, Sheila.

The leader of the council, Mr Tony Roberts, said: "Although he had been ill for much of his year in office, he was so stoical and positive. I thought he would win this fight.

“I will remember Keith for his unswerving loyalty, his dedication as a councillor, his dry sense of humour but above all his warmth as a human being.

"He deserved his accolade as chairman of the council. It is such a huge pity that he was taken from us during his year of office."

The council’s vice-chairman, Mrs Marika Tribe, will assume the role of chairman for the remainder of the civic term.