Tribute to Jim Shepherd
James (Jim) Shepherd 25th March 1938 to February 2022
Jim was born at Nelson on 25th March 1938 and moved to Gerrard Street, Lancaster with his parents and sister when he was two. His sister, Ada, was 9 years older than Jim. He attended the National School in Lancaster and eventually started employment for a business in Penny Street. After National Service in the Royal Air Force, he worked for the NHS in the maintenance department as a plumber at the Moor Hospital and later at Royal Lancaster Infirmary.
Jim never married but was close to Ada and her husband Ted, both of whom pre-deceased him. He continued to live in the house in Gerrard Street after his parents died.
Jim was very much a lover of the countryside and had a keen interest in birds and flowers and rivers and loved to take photographs. He fulfilled these interests by his love of walking and joined Lancaster & District Rambling Club, now known as Lancaster Fellwalkers, round about 1981. He led his first walk with the club in October 1981e fulfilled and, over the next 12 years or so, these were usually for A party. He served on the committee for a couple of years about this time. From about 1994, he led B party walks, often as many as 8 a year. B party walks are taken at a more leisurely pace and gave him chance to take photographs and take pleasure in the countryside. He used the 555-bus service to recce the walks and often ended up at a pub for lunch and a beer. In addition to leading walks, he contributed to the club for many years as webmaster, and put both his photographs and those of other walkers onto the website. He had a collection of email addresses of past and present members who would receive links to the various photographs on the days after the walks. Members past and present have fond memories of Jim. He could be very supportive and one member always thinks of him when she ties her boot laces as he taught her to do 40 years ago so that they wouldn’t come undone. Jim could be a bit grumpy in later years as he got into trouble for not keeping up because he was so keen on taking photographs. He didn’t hold back if he had to fit his long legs into the coaches with narrow seats, either. He could frequently be heard muttering to himself. Eventually, the day came when he no longer came out with the club but he maintained contact and continued as webmaster until a couple of years ago. He was made a Life Member of Lancaster Fellwalkers in 2013. Most days he would be out walking round Fairfield to see the birds on the food tray put out by LDBWS and on the canal footpath, as well as taking the buses to Bare and Hest Bank and trains to Leighton Moss, always with his camera and binoculars. He was instantly recognisable with his white moustache and beard and usual walking outfit of cropped trousers and a ruck sack on his back.
Jim’s other main interest was birds and he was a member of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and of Lancaster and District Birdwatching Society. He spent much of his time at Leighton Moss and in season he kept count of the Avocets, numbers arriving, chicks hatched and numbers predated and surviving. He put these records on his website. He also recorded birds seen on the Lune and environs.
Jim was a driver but following a minor accident a few years ago he gave up his car and travelled by bus and train. He loved his food and enjoyed cooking for himself making large amounts and freezing portions for another day. He would often send photos of vegetable stews he’d made and he was proud of his Barra Brith. Jim was a vegetarian and enjoyed Chinese and Thai food. He was very partial to craft beers and to the odd glass of red wine. He especially liked the small craft breweries. In recent years he would eat out frequently, enjoying the company of a friend and it was this friend who realised there may be something wrong as he hadn’t heard from him.
Sadly, Jim died at home on his own, where he had lived for all but two years of his life, and wasn’t discovered for several days. In conversation with a friend recently he had contemplated what might happen. However, he had been reasonably healthy and active and interested in life right up until the end of his almost 84 years.
Judith Brown, 16/03/2022
Jim never married but was close to Ada and her husband Ted, both of whom pre-deceased him. He continued to live in the house in Gerrard Street after his parents died.
Jim was very much a lover of the countryside and had a keen interest in birds and flowers and rivers and loved to take photographs. He fulfilled these interests by his love of walking and joined Lancaster & District Rambling Club, now known as Lancaster Fellwalkers, round about 1981. He led his first walk with the club in October 1981e fulfilled and, over the next 12 years or so, these were usually for A party. He served on the committee for a couple of years about this time. From about 1994, he led B party walks, often as many as 8 a year. B party walks are taken at a more leisurely pace and gave him chance to take photographs and take pleasure in the countryside. He used the 555-bus service to recce the walks and often ended up at a pub for lunch and a beer. In addition to leading walks, he contributed to the club for many years as webmaster, and put both his photographs and those of other walkers onto the website. He had a collection of email addresses of past and present members who would receive links to the various photographs on the days after the walks. Members past and present have fond memories of Jim. He could be very supportive and one member always thinks of him when she ties her boot laces as he taught her to do 40 years ago so that they wouldn’t come undone. Jim could be a bit grumpy in later years as he got into trouble for not keeping up because he was so keen on taking photographs. He didn’t hold back if he had to fit his long legs into the coaches with narrow seats, either. He could frequently be heard muttering to himself. Eventually, the day came when he no longer came out with the club but he maintained contact and continued as webmaster until a couple of years ago. He was made a Life Member of Lancaster Fellwalkers in 2013. Most days he would be out walking round Fairfield to see the birds on the food tray put out by LDBWS and on the canal footpath, as well as taking the buses to Bare and Hest Bank and trains to Leighton Moss, always with his camera and binoculars. He was instantly recognisable with his white moustache and beard and usual walking outfit of cropped trousers and a ruck sack on his back.
Jim’s other main interest was birds and he was a member of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and of Lancaster and District Birdwatching Society. He spent much of his time at Leighton Moss and in season he kept count of the Avocets, numbers arriving, chicks hatched and numbers predated and surviving. He put these records on his website. He also recorded birds seen on the Lune and environs.
Jim was a driver but following a minor accident a few years ago he gave up his car and travelled by bus and train. He loved his food and enjoyed cooking for himself making large amounts and freezing portions for another day. He would often send photos of vegetable stews he’d made and he was proud of his Barra Brith. Jim was a vegetarian and enjoyed Chinese and Thai food. He was very partial to craft beers and to the odd glass of red wine. He especially liked the small craft breweries. In recent years he would eat out frequently, enjoying the company of a friend and it was this friend who realised there may be something wrong as he hadn’t heard from him.
Sadly, Jim died at home on his own, where he had lived for all but two years of his life, and wasn’t discovered for several days. In conversation with a friend recently he had contemplated what might happen. However, he had been reasonably healthy and active and interested in life right up until the end of his almost 84 years.
Judith Brown, 16/03/2022