Dick Sheppard (1942-49)

We are saddened to learn that former Cryptian and stunt driver Dick Sheppard, who once held the record for having the most entries in the Guinness Book of Records, has died aged 90.  The following is extracted from his obituary published in Punchline Gloucester.

After attending Calton Road Junior and Crypt Grammar School, he earned a place at Cambridge University but opted for a job in a motorcycle shop instead.

He said: “At school I was caned quite frequently and threatened with expulsion more than once for being a rebel. I accepted that because it was usually quite true.

“The few masters who owned cars used to hand me the keys during the morning so that I spent the lunch hour cleaning the plugs and points and generally tuning their cars at the out of bounds area in front of the school, while my pals played football in the playground.

“This I did more for the love of engines than any fondness I felt for the teachers. The happiness this gave me continued throughout my life whenever I got the maximum performance out of an engine, whether it was to win a stock car race or achieve a new world record.”

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