Sir Colin Ryley Shepherd (13 January 1938 – 17 January 2024) was a British Conservative politician. He was MP for Hereford from October 1974 until his defeat by Liberal Democrat Paul Keetch in 1997. He took a special interest in rural issues and the Commonwealth.[1]

Background

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Shepherd was born in Hale, Cheshire in 1938.[2][3] He was head boy at the prestigious Oundle School and after performing his national service with the Royal Navy, he attended Caius College, Cambridge and McGill University in Montreal, where he served in the Royal Canadian Navy.[3]

Career

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Shepherd worked for his family's company in Ross-on-Wye, where he continued to work for at least one day a week through his political career in unison with his two younger brothers [3]

In 1974, Shepherd was elected to parliament in Hereford. He was described by The Daily Telegraph as a "generally loyal" Conservative, who took a strong interest in rural issues.[3] He was vice chairman of the agricultural committee on two occasions. [3]

After his defeat in 1997, he continued to work in business until 2010. He also helped consult government within in Africa and helped to elect his successor MP but one, Jesse Norman.[3]

Personal life

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Shepherd was knighted in the 1996 New Year Honours[4] and lived at Ganarew Manor, Herefordshire.[5] He married Lady Louise Cleveland in 1966, and they had three boys.[3]

He died at home on 17 January 2024, four days after his 86th birthday which he spent celebrating with his close family at his home in Ganarew.[3][6]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Sir Colin Shepherd". UK Parliament. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  2. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Sir Colin Shepherd, Hereford Tory MP who defended local interests from farming to SAS – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 20 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  4. ^ Wynn Davies, Patricia (30 December 2005). "THE NEW YEAR HONOURS: Tory backers are rewarded". The Independent. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  5. ^ "Open Garden at The Manor House, Ganarew - St Michael's Hospice | Specialist palliative care for life-limiting conditions". St-michaels-hospice.org.uk. 9 June 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2012.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Price, Richard (22 January 2024). "Tributes paid to former MP of over 20 years". BBC News. Retrieved 1 February 2024.

References

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  • Times Guide to the House of Commons, Times Newspapers Limited, 1997 edition
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Hereford
19741997
Succeeded by