Guild member Richard Shepherd-Barron, racing driver, Morgan enthusiast and commercial horticulture journalist, died in September aged 88 after a brief illness.
Richard was educated at Stowe School, within earshot of Silverstone, and completed his first race, in a Fiat at Goodwood racing circuit, in 1958, aged 21.
In subsequent years, he rose through the ranks of international sports car racing and through 1959 and 1960 won nine times, either overall or in class, and achieved 27 top-three placings from 41 events.
Further success came in 1962 when Richard and his driving partner won the 2-litre GT class at the famous Le Mans 24 Hours race in a Morgan Plus Four, finishing a highly creditable 13th overall – and the subject of a book penned by Richard.
Motor sport aside, he worked as an assistant farm manager for a time and in the motor industry for Alfa Romeo in Milan and London, then international road haulage (mainly Italy but also to the Middle East), engineering and refrigerated commercial vehicle building.
He wrote on topics related to these periods in his career and also on agricultural and commercial horticulture topics from his home near Woodbridge, east Suffolk, contributing mainly to the ACT Publishing titles Vegetable Farmer, Fruit Grower and Commercial Greenhouse Grower, as well as South East Farmer.
Fellow commercial horticulture writer and Guild member, freelance Richard Crowhurst recalls: “From the first time I met him, Richard was a lovely and supportive man who continued to support a younger freelancer working in the same sectors and on the same subjects.
“It was always a pleasure to arrive at a conference or trade show and discover that Richard was there as well; he will be sadly missed.”
Cedric Porter added: “It was always a pleasure to catch up with Richard at the Guild harvest lunch and as a ‘dabbler’ in horticulture publishing myself, he, Sam Luckin and I would discuss the latest goings on in the veg world.
“Richard was always a very positive character looking to highlight the opportunities for British horticulture in what can be a tough business; and there are lots of tributes to him as a ‘true gentlemen’ from the racing world.”
The Guild sends condolences to Richard’s family – Penny, Chris and Nicky, who invite donations to St Elizabeth Hospice “for the amazing support they provided” during the few weeks before Richard’s death. (https://richardshepherd-barron.muchloved.com)
Note: A funeral service will be held at 12.00 noon on Friday, October 10 at Seven Hills Crematorium, Ipswich, Suffolk IP10 0FG and afterwards for a celebration in Richard’s memory at The Fox Inn, The Street, Newbourne, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 4NY.
