To forget one's ancestors is to be a brook without a source, a tree without a root.

~ Wedding Photos ~ The children of Charles Sheppard & Elsie Gomez (Click on the photos to enlarge and scroll through) Jessie & Man Jessie Mabel Sheppard and Bernard Henry McNee Brash 29 Aug 1936 Boysie & Elsa Joseph Alfred Sheppard and Elsa Carmen Fernandes November 1938, Trinidad Lena Joyce de Sousa married Albert Charles (Bertie) Sheppard who was ill with malaria on their wedding day, 25 November, 1938, Port of Spain, Trinidad John & Juliet John Herbert Sheppard and Juliet Inez Fernandes 20 April, 1939 - Sacred Heart Church, Trinidad Madge & Vin Mary Marjorie Sheppard and George Vincent Gonsalves 14 Sep 1940, Trinidad George & Norah George Havelock Sheppard and Elenora Juliet Laing 27 Feb 1942, Trinidad Audrey & Don Audrey Ethel Sheppard and Donald Elias Clark Trinidad, 18 Mar 1943 Robert & Angela 11th April, 1942 - Trinidad Andrew Sheppard was bestman Sybil Sheppard standing next to groom Sybil & Patrick Sybil Elsie Sheppard and Patrick Vernon Acland Gibbon 19 Jun 1943 Andrew & Betty Andrew Desmond Sheppard and Frances Elizabeth St. Hill 31 Jul 1943, Barbados Colin & Flo Edith Florence Sheppard and Victor Colin Johnson 4 May 1946, Newtown, Trinidad Boysie & Winnie Joseph Alfred Sheppard and Winifred Tilly van Amson 29 July, 1960 - Lutheran Church, Suriname

Barbados Turf Club Tony Archer John Anthony Keith Archer TONY (1939 - 1984) Tony Archer was was an avid Barbadian sportsman. He enjoyed playing water polo and tennis. He played cricket for the Wanderers Club and in the eighties he became a member of the Windward Cricket Club. But horses were his first love. He represented Barbados in show jumping and polo for a number of years. He was also a keen competitor in dressage, and sponsored many equestrian events through his family business, J.A.K. Archer & Co. Ltd. Later he turned his enormous enthusiasm and knowledge of horses to the sport of horse-racing. He served as a member of the Committee of Management of The Barbados Turf Club and was the youngest person ever to be appointed as Steward of The Barbados Turf Club. Tony Archer

 Man of the Soil The author of this tribute, Michael L. (Mike) Goddard, has been dubbed 
"the voice of horse racing in Barbados".
 Mike is a multi-award-winning Caribbean journalist who has been inducted into the
Barbados Association of Journalists’ Hall of Fame. People from all walks of life are mourning the death of Tony Archer, a man who during his lifetime became a friend of all. The large crowd which overflowed the Roman Catholic Cathedral at Jemmotts Lane was indicative of the respect and love which followed this man throughout his lifetime. The sudden death of John Anthony Keith “Tony” Archer last month, left a shocking numbness which will take sometime to wear off. However, those of us who were fortunate to come into contact with him will always remember his pleasant personality and his constant willingness to help. In the world of horse racing, Tony Archer made his mark not only as a much respected steward, but as a forward thinking person always ready to adopt new ideas. He introduced sponsorship to horse racing in Barbados when his company J.A.K. Archer & Co. Ltd. launched the Martini Vermouth St. Leger back in 1966. Since that first sponsored event this phenomenon has grown to tremendous heights in Barbados, but few remember the input of Tony Archer. When the Martini Vermouth St. Leger failed to develop into the type of race that Tony envisaged, he abandoned the event, but returned some years later, this time with a new sponsor for the island’s most historic event. The Mackeson Derby was the brainchild of Tony Archer and before the introduction of the rich Cockspur Gold Cup was the race of the year in Barbados. Tony had only one way of doing things and that was the best. With this in mind, he turned what used to be an ordinary classic into the most prestigious creole race in Barbados. He assisted in increasing the stakes, putting a valuable trophy and staging a crowd pleasing event worthy of any of the major racing centers in the world. With the backing of Tony Archer, race sponsorship reached new heights. Tony Archer had one pet peeve and that was the poor standard of riding in Barbados. He therefore in his own way set out to correct what he saw as a major stumbling block to the development of horse racing Barbados. He was the driving force behind the establishment of the Jockey School, and one of his major disappointments came when this establishment closed its doors a few years ago. Just before his untimely death, Tony Archer had once again set out towards having this school reopened as a means of improving the standard of riding. Jockeys at the Garrison will not hesitate to tell you that as long as Tony was a sitting steward for a particular day, they could expect to be summoned to be told in no uncertain way that they must be at the top of their profession. In addition, if they made a mistake during the course of that day, they would be recalled on the very next day to be shown their faults and asked to correct them. So committed was Tony to this that on several occasions when most people had missed things in a race he came up with something. For instance, toward the end of the last racing season two jockeys were fined, one for handing his whip to his colleague during the course of a race and the other for receiving it. Not only did he call up the two jockeys, but he also found the appropriate rule that they had infringed. Tony Archer served for several years as a steward of the Barbados Turf Club, and he geared himself for this learning all the rules and reading every scrap of information that would improve his capabilities. He was also an open man and was always ready to explain why he had taken a particular decision. He was a hard but fair steward and his one aim was to ensure the highest standards in the sport of horse racing. He was also one of the people responsible for introducing the filming of racing in Barbados, a move which made it easier for the stewards to review a race and see particular incidents. He made sure they got the appropriate equipment and he used it to the fullest. Tony Archer has passed on and will surely be missed, but he has left behind an excellent example for us to follow. He was a perfectionist and one must realize that his path would be a hard one to walk. However, he has shown us that to aim for the best should be our main objective, no matter what we do. For my part, I feel that I had lost not only a friend, but a confidant and one who I could always turn to for advice and support. In fact, just days before his death we had discussed a project that I was planning and I was on my way home to call him when news of his death reached me. Tony . . . rest in peace. You have done your part and all that’s left is for us to emulate you. Tony Archer died on 14 July, 1984 at the age of 45. In March 2006, he was inducted into The Barbados Turf Club's Hall of Fame in recognition of his significant contributions to the sport of horse racing in Barbados. I am pictured here with our eldest and youngest children, Paul (left)) and Philip (right) having received the certificate of induction. The occasion was reported in the Barbados Sunday Advocate of March 19, 2006 Barbados Mackeson Derby at the Garrison Savannah - Saturday August 11, 1984 My husband, Tony Archer, was Managing Director of J.A.K. Archer & Co. Ltd., agents for Mackeson Stout, and sponsors of the Barbados Derby. Tony had died just a month before the big feature race. “Generator” owned by Trinidadian Mr. Navarro, trained by Steven Jardim and ridden by top Barbadian jockey Venice Richards are pictured above. Our two eldest sons, Paul and Wayne Archer - then 17 and 16 years old - were invited to join in the lead-in by the connections, in honour of their father. It was a poignant moment. Amateur Jockey Race at The Garrison, Barbados circa 1978/79 Tony Archer took the lead and won on "September Song " Amateur Jockey Race at The Garrison, Barbados circa 1978/79 Tony Archer Tony on "September Song" being led in by son Paul Archer with Anne Marie Moore "Gilly Gilly" being led in by owner Tony Archer, son Paul - around 1977 "Gilly Gilly" being led in by owner Tony Archer, son Wayne, and Hon. Da Costa Edwards, Minister of Education - around 1977 For Gilly-Gilly's win, I received the prize of a silver coffee and tea service from Governor General of Barbados,Sir Deighton Lisle Ward GCMG GCVO. He was the 2nd native Governor General of Barbados after the island became independent in 1966 See also: J.A.K. (Tony) Archer - Barbados Polo Club The Archer Family Barbados

Neilsa Marcella Sheppard née Tasker "NiNi" 16 January, 1951 - 29 March, 2024 Listen: Tribute to NiNi Valerie Sheppard 00:00 / 10:35 Tribute by Valerie Sheppard Delivered at A Service of Thanksgiving for Neilsa's life St. Dominic’s Catholic Church, Maxwell, Christ Church, Barbados Friday April 12th, 2024 It was 1967 when my brother Peter first introduced his gorgeous girlfriend to our family. Peter was barely 18, Neilsa Tasker was a schoolgirl, not quite 16. She was a striking beauty and my impression from the outset was that she was different. Exotic, even! NiNi was fun-loving and vivacious, with a quick sense of humour and an infectious, bubbly laugh. She spoke Spanish and had a distinctive, appealing Latina air about her. We all knew that our Petes was completely smitten - and truth be said, that never changed. A child of the fifties, Neilsa was born in Trinidad to Mickey and Elba Tasker. Her dad was Guyanese, of English and Guyanese roots and her mother Venezuelan with some Dutch connections in the island of Saba. Neilsa was their second child, the younger sister of Marcia. The sisters grew up adapting to different cultures, living wherever their father’s work took them - St. Lucia, New York, and Venezuela It was there that Neilsa’s 18 year old sister Marcia died after a short illness. Neilsa was just 14 years old. The memory of Marcia and her tragic parting stayed with NiNi throughout her life. In the mid sixties, Mickey, Elba and Neilsa moved from Venezuela to Barbados where Neilsa was enrolled at the Ursuline Convent to complete her secondary education. From there she continued her studies at the University of the West Indies, obtaining her BA degree in Sociology and History with top honours. As part of the Tasker family of brilliant tennis players, Neilsa developed a great love of the sport and was herself a skilled player. She and Peter enjoyed games of tennis with her dad Mickey, and they remained avid followers of international tennis. She also enjoyed playing racquetball and squash. Neilsa and Peter dated as teenagers, in the days when boys would visit at the girls’ home and parents had to approve and know exactly where they were going and responsibly bring them home at the appointed time. On one occasion, Peter worked up the courage to ask Neilsa’s mother if he could take her to the Hotel Royal in Hastings where there was a live band and open-air dancing on a Friday night. Elba firmly put her foot down - absolutely not, you can’t take her out to a public place like that! But you can take her to the Drive-In or so. Needless to say, that was perfectly okay with them. How Neilsa and Peter loved to tell that joke! Predictably, their young romance blossomed into marriage and a beautiful traditional wedding at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on 17 October 1970 - a few days before Peter’s 21st birthday. Neilsa’s working career took a diverse path, starting with a teaching job at St. Winifred’s school. Her students still recall their stylish teacher who made learning fun for them! Meanwhile, Peter had already embarked on his lifelong career of photography and was offered a job with The Kodak Company in Puerto Rico. While living in Puerto Rico, Neilsa became involved in selling real estate, and it was there that their only child Renee was born in 1976. Peter’s promotions within the Kodak Company took them to live in Rochester, NY, and in Venezuela. Neilsa loved and supported Peter throughout every step of his career. In 1987, they decided to return to Barbados and open their own photography business, launching Sheps Photo, the one-hour photo developing franchise that became a household name in Barbados. Not only was Neilsa a co-owner and Director of Sheps Photo, she was highly skilled in colour printing, and Peter recalls with a grin that some of their customers would insist that “Mrs. Sheps” print their rolls. Neilsa worked long hours alongside Peter in their Mall 34 Sheps Photo business, the first of five outlets they established together in Barbados, also training staff to operate and run them. Neilsa and Peter traveled and cruised the world extensively. Their home overlooking the turquoise waters of Cotton Bay is a reflection of their travels, filled with a fascinating mix of treasures that appealed to her eclectic taste, collected from around the world. Though Neilsa was modest about her many talents, she was a gifted artist, ceramist and interior designer. Her pottery and paintings, her sense of colour and love of handcrafted, earthy items show her deep love of animals and nature. NiNi had a green thumb, and you couldn’t please her better than by giving her a clipping, plant or bulb that she could nuture and watch grow. Every plant she touched flourished. She wasn’t at all materialistic and had no interest in shopping for expensive designer clothes and accessories. Not surprisingly, Peter and Neilsa’s daughter Renee grew up to be an artist, photographer, and costume designer. Neilsa would help Renee make headpieces and costumes for Kadooment, spending days glueing beads, sequins and feathers for her. Eight years ago, after having just crossed the stage as band leader on Kadooment Day in the beautiful costume she had designed, Renee passed away suddenly. Her death was shocking and devasting. But their unending love for each other and for their twin grandsons Harrison and Nicholai saw them through those darkest of times. In her young days Neilsa loved a party, loved to dance and make jokes. She was warm and loving to her nieces and nephews - young people always found her so much fun to be around. With her larger-than-life personality, we all knew that Neilsa was authentic, genuine, with no pretensions. She enjoyed a wonderful lifetime of love and adventures with her Peter and was truly another sister to all of his siblings. In more recent years she was content to be at home surrounded by her dogs, plants and the people she loved. She made our brother the happiest man on earth, and he returned her love with the deepest devotion. NiNi suffered some serious health challenges during the last couple of years, and she faced them bravely with her Peter by her side until the very end. We will always hold Neilsa close in our hearts and remember how loving and kind she was to animals, and especially how she loved and cherished our brother Peter, their daughter Renee and grandsons Harrison and Nicholai. In 2020 during the time of the pandemic, Neilsa and Peter quietly celebrated their Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary at home watching a slideshow of their wedding day that Peter created for his bride. We would now like to share this nostalgic look back to the start of 53 years of their enduring love and life together.

Family Videos ~ Snippets of Memories ~ Robert Sheppard and his sister Jessie, Trinidad 1993 Jessie Brash at her Piano At John and Jennifer(Gibbon) MacLean's home Trinidad, February 1989 At the home of John & Valerie Sheppard , Wareham, England, October 10, 1991 Robert Sheppard and his sister Jessie, February 23, 1993 Musical evening at O'Connor Street, Port-of-Spain Trinidad, February 23, 1993 Mother and Daughter Memories of Andrew Sheppard Filmed around 1966 My mother, Betty Sheppard in Barbados These are not professional recordings. They are unedited, so you can hear the scratchiness of the vinyl LP record. Jessie sang to an instrumental versions of the songs, and was recorded by her brother Malcolm at his home at Shine Street, Port of Spain, Trinidad - circa 1958. She was well known in her day for her beautiful voice, and often performed as soloist at weddings and other functions. (Images used are my own photos of Holland and Canada in Autumn; photos of Jessie and the Mendes family are copies of her own family collection. ) At The Gibbons, Trinidad, February 1989 St. Augustine Days , February 26 1993 Home of Patrick & Sybil Gibbon Trinidad Carnival 1993 Alan Sheppard with Spice & Company Sheppard sisters and Joan Bodu in the stands 50th Wedding Anniversary Don & Audrey, California, March 18 1993 Auntie Sybil's (DELICIOUS) Prune Ice Cream Crane Hotel, Barbados - July 25, 2013 Peter Sheppard playing the bones Barbados - July 2011 Valerie Sheppard - live recording from a television showin Barbados - December 1967 Wedding day Valerie Sheppard and Tony Archer July 16, 1966 - Barbados My youngest son Phil Archer singing "Angels" Little Bentley, Barbados. Wedding day Meindert & Valerie 27 July, 2013 Shown on September 13th, 2015 at my mother Betty's 90th birthday party. Made with love. Wedding of my daughter Ingrid Archer and Eduardo Martinez at St. James Parish Church Barbados, 1995 Loving and unforgettable father and husband - my Tony Archer - "I Will Tell Your Story" 23 March 1939 - 14 July 1984

Sgt. Major Alfred Sheppard (1855 - 1917) My great-grandfather In this remarkable photograph of my great-grandfather, Alfred Sheppard, we see details that align with the historical records of the Trinidad Constabulary and the British Imperial Army during the late 19th century. It is a studio portrait taken in the years when he served in active duty in South Trinidad. In this portrait, Alfred is wearing a full-dress tunic typical of a high-ranking Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) in a British colonial police force. The intricate "Hussar-style" cord frogging across the chest was a hallmark of senior ranks in the Trinidad Police. It signifies his position as a Superintendent Sergeant or Sergeant Major. The visible silver chain across his chest (attached to his pocket watch) was a common personal touch for senior officers of the era, symbolizing punctuality and administrative authority. Entries written by Alfred in the Sheppard Family bible are testimony to his precise record-keeping, especially relating to dates and time. Alfred's impeccably groomed "handlebar" moustache was the standard military and police style of the late Victorian era. This rare "Cabinet Card" photograph captures him at the height of his professional career. I consider it a glimpse into the "Old Guard" of the Caribbean colonial service and a striking visual record of the men who shaped the early Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. As a Sergeant Major in the late 19th-century Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), Alfred Sheppard held a position of significant authority. During this era, the TTPS was structured along British semi-military lines, and the Sergeant Major was the highest-ranking non-commissioned officer. He would have been responsible for the daily discipline, training, and drill of the constables. His role would have required high literacy and administrative skill. Alfred sent the portrait of himself to his family in Wem. He wrote this note on the back of the cabinet card - "a perfect facsimile of your lost sheep". I think that Alfred was being witty, playing on the Sheppard (Shepherd) name, referring to himself as the lost sheep because he was the one who had strayed the furthest across the globe! He was no doubt proud to show off that that he had been successful since his arrival as a youngster from Sussex to Trinidad in the West Indies. The card identifies the photographer as George Adhar, located at 10a Prince of Wales St., San Fernando, Trinidad. Adhar was a prominent photographer in San Fernando, Trinidad, during the late 19th century. Having his studio information printed in this elaborate, turquoise-lithographed style suggests that he was a high-end professional. The bottom left mentions "Marion, Imp. Paris." This refers to Marion & Co., a famous French company that manufactured the actual card stock. It shows that even in Trinidad, photographers were importing the finest materials from Europe to create these portraits. Alfred Sheppard's Early Life Alfred Sheppard was the sixth child in a family of ten children born to James and Elizabeth Shepherd née Cole. He was born in Chichester, Sussex on 22 August, 1855 and was baptised at St. Pancras Church, Sussex on 30 September that year. His baptism record shows his father's trade as "labourer", while his birth certificate states "jobbing gardener". In other words, he came from an English working class family in the parish of St. Pancras, Chichester, Sussex. In 1874 when he was just 19 years old, Alfred enlisted in the 2nd Brigade King’s Own, Sussex. This "Brigade" was headquartered in Chichester (at the Rousillon Barracks), which explains how Alfred, born in the parish of St. Pancras, would have simply walked down the road to enlist in his local regiment. In 1878, he was seconded to Trinidad and left his home in England. He arrived in Trinidad as Colour Sergeant with his regiment. Reaching the rank of Colour Sergeant by age 23 (when he arrived in Trinidad) indicates Alfred was exceptionally disciplined, literate, and possessed natural leadership. A Colour Sergeant was a prestigious rank, responsible for protecting the regiment's flags (the "Colours") and for the well-being of a full company of men. When he arrived on the shores of Trinidad, Alfred would have been wearing the scarlet wool tunic of the Sussex Regiment. In the humid West Indian climate and tropical surroundings, he must have experienced a drastic change from life in England. When he moved from the King’s Own Royal Regiment Sussex to the Trinidad Police, he was part of a wave of British "Imperial" soldiers brought in to professionalize the local constabulary. In 1880, two years after his arrival in the island, the Trinidad Police Force required two Supt. Sergeants and Alfred was allowed to resign from the army to take up one of those positions. Alfred was the perfect candidate: an Englishman from a working-class background who had proven himself in the King’s Own Sussex. By resigning from the Army to join the Police, he effectively chose a path of permanent immigration, trading his life in Chichester for a position of authority in the Caribbean. A brave move for this young Englishman so far away from his family and his motherland. The Sheppard Family Bible - Alfred's Legacy I find it a touching detail to observe that one year after enrolling in the Sussex Regiment, and two years before arriving in Trinidad, Alfred Sheppard wrote the following statement at the very top of the page of what was to become our genealogical and historical treasure - the Sheppard Family Bible. In Alfred’s distinctive handwriting, in military style, he wrote a formal authentication of the records he entered, starting with his own birth. It reads: "This is a True Record, copied from the old Family Bible by me on Sunday the 19th day of September 1875." Directly following this statement is his signature: Alfred Sheppard. Perhaps he was already preparing for the possibility of overseas deployment and wanted to carry with him his own Bible from England in which he would record his life's journey. The phrase "True Record" reflects his military mindset and training, treating family history with the same importance and accuracy as an official ledger. Sgt. Alfred Sheppard in Trinidad Life in the tropics must have smiled on Alfred, as he fell in love with a young lady of Portuguese descent, the daughter of immigrants from Madeira. Sgt. Alfred Sheppard recorded in his family Bible that he and Virginia de Freitas were married on 25th June, 1881 at the Free Church of Scotland, St. Ann’s Road, Trinidad, B.W.I., of which Virginia's father Sebastien was a founding member. This was just months before Alfred's older brother Charles had married Mary Ellen Fisher in England. It was during February 1881, a few months before Alfred’s marriage, that the Canboulay Riots were staged by descendants of freed slaves in Trinidad & Tobago, against attempts by the British police to crack down on certain aspects of the celebration of Carnival. During this time, Carnival was often marred by clashes between groups of revelers carrying sticks and lighted torches. While the confrontations started in song duels between the chantwells, they often descended into physical violence. It has also been recorded that 1881, Trinidad’s police force clashed with revelers in Port of Spain who had banded together against the police. Sergeant Alfred Sheppard was a young officer of the British Constabulary contending with this social unrest in the British colony of Trinidad. One account states that policemen were armed only with cudgels and were severely beaten by rioters. Rioting was fierce in the southern cities of San Fernando and Princes Town during the carnival of 1884. This was followed by the infamous Hosay Massacre of October 30th 1884. That was the very year that Alfred and Virginia started their family. Alfred and Virginia's Children Alfred and Virginia’s first child was a son, born at 1.20 a.m. on Tuesday 8th January, 1884 in Mucurapo, Peru Estate. This was the area now called St. James, where the barracks were located. Their firstborn was named after his English father and grandfather - Alfred James. On Wednesday, October 21st the following year, another son arrived, and he was named Charles Sebastien Theodore . He was to become my grandfather. Charles, known as Charlie, was born in St. Joseph, Trinidad, and was probably named after his uncle Charles in England. His second name, Sebastien, was that of his Portuguese maternal grandfather, Sebastien de Freitas. Two years later, still in St. Joseph, a baby girl arrived. Alfred and Virginia called their daughter Amalia Elizabeth Sheppard . Amalia, affectionately called Amy, was born at 8 a.m. on Saturday 14th May, 1887. Her second name was that of her English grandmother, Elizabeth. In November of 1888 a third son was born to Alfred and Virginia: Arthur Wybrow de Freitas Sheppard. It is recorded that Captain Arthur Wybrow Baker was appointed Inspector Commandant of Trinidad’s Police Force in 1887. Alfred and Virginia's son was most certainly named after him. This indicates to me that the Commandant was much respected by Sgt. Sheppard, and might even have been a personal friend. Capt. Baker was known as "Brave Baker of the Bobbies". He was said to have been a militant man by nature and decisive in his actions. He was determined to end the Canboulay as a threat to public order. It was reported in the Port of Spain Gazette of 14 June 1917 that once, while outing with Captain Baker (the then Inspector-General), Alfred Sheppard received a severe injury which left a scar on his head for life. On Easter Sunday, 6th April 1890 at 11 a.m. yet another son was born to Alfred and Virginia, completing their family of five children. This baby was born in Princes Town, which is in south Trinidad. He was named Edward Albert James Sheppard. In those days, the Police Headquarters , completed in 1876, was situated at the corner of St. Vincent and Sackville Streets in Port of Spain. In 1881, the year Alfred and Virginia were married, the Police Headquarters was destroyed by fire which was caused by the kerosene oil lighting system. From the locations of the births of their children as recorded on their birth certificates, it is clear that Sergeant Major Alfred Sheppard and his wife lived wherever he, as an officer of the Police Force, had been posted in his line of duty. He sent photos of his two children Charles and Amalia to his family in Wem. These were also taken at George Adhar’s Studio, San Fernando - quite likely on the same day as his own portrait. The children look around 6 and 7 years old, and their little faces are so serious - or are they sad? Charlie is dressed as a miniature soldier or cadet, which was a common way for senior officers to dress their sons for formal portraits. His pillbox cap bears an insignia on the front. It appears to be a crown or a specific crest, likely mirroring the badge of the Trinidad Police Force. Amy is wearing her Sunday best. They are posed against a backdrop of tropical greenery and an ornate English Victorian "bobbin-leg" table, typical of those times. "Badly Taken" An amusing note at the back of the photograph! Despite the children looking impeccably dressed and disciplined to our modern eyes, Alfred clearly felt the photographer, George Adhar, didn't capture them at their best. Whether he meant the lighting, the background or more likely the children's serious expressions, it shows that even in the 1890's parents were picky about their children's photos! Sadness in the family They were living in the south of Trinidad - possibly it was still Princes Town where the last two children were born when tragedy struck the family. In 1893 both of their youngest children became very sick with dysentery. Their baby boy, Albert Edward James Sheppard, just three years old, died at 4.00 on the morning of 11th June, 1893 of acute dysentery and was buried in the Presbyterian ground, Paradise Cemetery, San Fernando. Sadly, just two weeks later, on Sunday 25th June 1893 at 2.50 a.m. their four-year old Arthur also died of acute dysentery. It was the very day of Alfred and Virginia’s 12th Wedding Anniversary. Little Arthur Wybrow was laid to rest by the side of his baby brother Albert. One can only imagine the sleepless nights and anguish of their parents, and the sadness of their older siblings Alfred, Charlie, and Amy. To England for the Diamond Jubilee Years passed by, and in 1897 there were to be great celebrations in England for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee . Trinidad was a colony of England, and The Trinidad Police Force sent a contingent to London for the celebrations. As a senior officer of the Force, Alfred was among the contingent chosen to go. He was then 40 years old and his children Charles and Amalia were 12 and 10 at the time. There must have been great excitement in the family, as this was an historic occasion that Alfred was to be a part of. Though we have found no record of it, we believe that Alfred most probably visited some of his family in England on this occasion. Family life in Trinidad - 1905 to 1917 Back to Trinidad some years later, it appears that Alfred and Virginia had moved north and were living at 117 Edward Street, Port of Spain. Owing to ill-health, he resigned from active duty as a Sergeant in 1905, after serving in both the Imperial Army and Trinidad Police Force for 31 years. He then assumed an administrative position as Staff Clerk and Paymaster of the Trinidad Constabulary. In an era where many police officers were illiterate, Alfred’s literacy, excellent handwriting and reputation as a man trained in details (as demonstrated in the 1882 Wupperman Prahl & Co. court case ) would have positioned him perfectly to take charge of the Constabulary’s logistics. In 1909, Alfred and Virginia attended the wedding of their son Charles to Elsie Mabel Gomez. It was a big, happy family occasion, celebrated in style at the lovely residence of Albert Mendes, at the corner of Shine Street and Victoria Square, Port-of-Spain. Albert's wife was Mary Pereira, Elsie's aunt, and Albert was also Elsie's godfather. Albert was the brother of Alfred Mendes Snr., great-grandfather of the British Academy award winner, Sir Samuel Alexander (Sam) Mendes CBE. Sadly, just one year after the beautiful wedding celebration, the family was once again plunged into sadness and deep grief. Alfred and Virginia's eldest son, Alfred James, succumbed to bronchitis on 19th January at 7.20 p.m., when he was just barely 25 years old. His bereaved father recorded in the Family Bible that he purchased a 12 x 10 grave for his son at Lapeyrouse Cemetery, for which he paid $40.00 on 21st January, 1910. In years to come, this grave plot would become the Sheppard family burial place, and remains so to this day. Alfred and his wife Virginia at the wedding of their son Charles Sheppard to Elsie Gomez - 20th January 1909 This image was cropped from the large group wedding photo, and enhanced using AI tools. It is the last known photograph of the couple. Alfred's health continued to decline, leading to his death on 12 June, 1917 when he was 60 years old. He was laid to rest alongside his son and namesake, Alfred James, in the burial place he had purchased seven years earlier. The newspaper report about him and his funeral indicates that he was a highly respected man, much loved by his family and colleagues. Three years after his death, there was once again a happy event to celebrate, when on 18th January 1913, Alfred and Virginia's daughter Amalia married Edward Oswald Mendes. His wife Virginia lived on for many more years, and passed away at 4 Shine Street, Port of Spain, when she was 74 years old. Alfred lived long enough to have known six of his grandchildren before he passed away, but never knew the extent of the large family he and Virginia started.
 
 Judging from the wonderful Family Bible he left behind, Alfred Sheppard appeared to have been a man who valued his family deeply and paid great attention to detail, recording even the exact time of births and deaths, indicative of his military and police training. It is curious, though, that about himself he only wrote that he was born ‘in England’ on 22nd August, 1857. It has taken years of research to trace his early beginnings. 
 This Family Bible had been passed down to his daughter Amalia (affectionally called Amy) and then to her daughter Jessie Rooks Mendes, who is still in possession of it. Thanks to the Mendes family who had it beautifully restored in Holland, and in particular to Jessie for sharing this gem, we were able to use those valuable handwritten details in our genealogy research. 
 From Alfred Sheppard and his wife Virginia, descended all the Sheppard and Mendes families from Trinidad. Thanks to the digitization of old newspapers, this article describing Alfred's funeral has been discovered in the Port of Spain Gazette of June 14, 1917. I have transcribed the article - click here or on the image below to read it. Several family members mentioned on this website were in attendance. Click here to see how the story of Alfred Sheppard led to my participation in a series called Descendants, produced and broadcast by BBC Radio 4 on 11 June, 2021. (All original 19th century images have been cleaned and restored by me, using AI) SEE ALSO: VIRGINIA DE FREITAS QUEEN VICTORIA'S JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS TRINIDAD POLICE vs. WUPPERMANN, PRAHL & CO.

Friendships~Partnerships~Family Ties Unravelling the Connections - Part II Co-founder of Char les McE nea rney & Co. Ltd. The Ford Dealership, Trinidad Robert de Sousa, better known as Bobby, was a most interesting man. Born on July 4 1880 in Trinidad, he was educated at Boys’ Model School (later Tranquility School). In 1904 when he was 24 years old, he married Alice Fer r eira, daughter of Moses Ferreir a and Isabella de Freitas. Moses owned and ran the Vista Bella Coal Mine in San Fernando. At that young age, Bob by was already the Branch Manager in south Trinidad of a business owned by Albert Mendes . (Incidentally, Alb ert's wife Mary Periera was my great-grandmother Christina Pereira's sister.) Alice and Bobby had six children They were Leslie , Grace, Kathleen, R ichard (Neville), Lena (Joyce) and Stanley. Two of his children, Leslie and Joyce, married two Sheppard siblings, my aunt Ida and uncle Bertie. The de Sousa family lived in a beautiful home situated near the Savannah in Port of Spain. Robert was a Freemason, having joined the Prince of Wales Lodge in Alexandra Street, Port of Spain in 1918. Robert (Bobby) de Sousa was the co-founder of the Ford dealership in Trinidad, Charles McEnearney & Co. Ltd. , and became the sole own er of the firm when Charles M cEnearney left Trinidad and returned to the USA. When Bobby decided to move to Grenada, he sol d the company to brothers George and Melville de Nobriga who, like himself, were Trinidadians of Portuguese parentage. After selling his interest in McEnearneys to the de Nobrigas, he joined Geo. F. Huggins & Co. Ltd., becoming one of the Directors of that company. In Grenada, he becam e Managing Director of George F. Huggins & Co. Ltd., the largest trade and commercial concern in Grenada at the time. Bobby de Sousa purchased and managed a large group of estates in Grenada and is said to have owned a small island in the Grenadines. He had a keen interest in horseracing and owned many famous racehorses. He also became one of the founders and directors of the cinema business in Grenada. The family relates that his wife Alice did not want to uproot her family to move to Grenada, so she continued to live in their family home in Port of Spain so that the children could continue their schooling there. The couple never divorced and Robert enjoyed the rest of his life in Grenada. Robert's daughter Joyce and her husband Bertie Sheppard also moved from Trinidad to Grenada. Following in his father-in-law's footsteps, Bertie became the Managing Director of Huggins & Co. Ltd. there. Robert (B obby) de Sousa Painting of "Bagshot" - the de Sousa Family home where Alice de Sousa lived with the children in Trinidad (Courtesy Joan (de Sousa) Bodu) l/r: Bertie Sheppard, Kathleen de Sousa and her father Robert de Sousa, in his garden over looking the harbour, Grenada Robert de Sousa and his son Stanley, Grenada Robert de Sousa died in Grenada on 21 July 1966 when he was 86 years old and was laid to rest there. Alice predeceased him in 1962 and her gravesite is in Mucurapo Cemetery in Trinidad. Their descendants are now spread far and wide - from the Caribbean to as far as Peru, England, Canada and America. CHARLES McENEARNEY & CO. LTD, TRINIDAD The McEnearney - de Nobriga - Gibson Connection Melville de Nobriga married Amy Gibson, whose brothers Ralph and Robert "Bunny" Gibson also joined the firm of Charles McEnearney & Co. Ltd. In 1925 Robert was transferred to San Fernando where he ran the branch there, while his younger brother Ralph worked his way up from the bottom at the Richmond Street headquarters in Port of Spain, having started working the petrol pumps as a schoolboy during vacation time. Ralph's brother "Bunny" Gibson died in a tragic accident in 1961, and in that same year within a short space of time, his brother-in-law Melville de Nobriga also passed away. In 1962, following those unfortunate deaths, Ralph became McEnearney's Chairman and Managing Director. Ralph held those positions until his retirement in 1982. Here again we see family ties, as Ralph Gibson married Charles McEnearney's daughter. I find it interesting to note that Ralph Gibson's grandfather had come to Trinidad from England and worked with the prison service attached to the St. James Barracks where my English great-grandfather Alfred Sheppard also served, first with his Regiment and later with the Trinidad Police Force. Charles McEnearney himself was an Irish-born immigrant. The de Nobriga brothers and Robert de Sousa were of Portuguese ancestry. In Barbados, Charles McEnearney's business partner Charles MacKenzie was of Scottish ancestry, all of his children bearing the family middle name Straghan. The Caribbean is truly a melting pot of intertwined families and people from different nations. Click to see Unravelling the Connections - Part I The Synchronicity of Life . . . I find that tracing the intertwining of families and events is fascinating. This story was first compiled by me on 17 October, 2021. On 4 November, following the death of my former husband David MacKenzie on 17 September 2023, I added the chapter about him. All of the newspaper articles are from my own collection. With thanks to:- Ryan de Sousa and family for providing family photos My cousins Joan (de Sousa) Bodu, Kathleen (Sheppard) Henry, and Bernie Henry for sharing oral family history J. David S. MacKenzie who gave me the book "The History of the ANSA McAL Group of Companies – 125 Years of Business" published in 2006. (David was a contributor of information and photos for the publication.) Douglas S. MacKenzie for providing information Genealogy sites on the internet for research My father Andrew Sheppard for his handwritten memoirs about the Portuguese in Trinidad.

"Morne Jaloux" - Grenada Written on July 1, 1988 by my father, Andrew Desmond Sheppard (transcribed from personal family memorabilia) January 1941. An automobile accident in Trinidad, I was thrown out of the “rumble” or “dicky” seat of a car when a drunken taxi driver collided with the car in which I was a passenger. This occurred at the early hours of the New Year. When I could, I accepted an invitation by friends to go to Grenada to recuperate. I suffered broken ribs and was black and blue all over. Otherwise fine. My mother’s sister was married to Uncle Louis , a Grenadian, who survived his wife who died in childbirth. Louis owned a basic hotel “Halifax” and I spent my stay between Uncle Louis and my cousin George, whose mother died upon his birth. The natural charm and friendliness of all Grenadians was impressive. My house is your house. I quickly made several friends and visited many places. The one place that has stuck in my mind is “Morne Jaloux”. It was a beautiful morning and we swam at Grand Anse beach and picknicked in the countryside. Around 5.00 p.m., another cousin took his sister, her friend and myself for a long drive over the hills, passing the Richmond Hill Prison on the way. We were to visit “L’Anse aux Epines” which area is now occupied by the airport. While driving, I noticed a derelict building at the end of a long driveway. Inquiry informed me that this was the notorious Morne Jaloux Estate Great House. Youthful curiosity and the quest for adventure attracted us to investigate this ancient and obviously neglected abode. Diffidently, our nervous driver, Gordon, drove his little Hillman down the badly overgrown dirt road which appeared to be unused for a long period. It was still light, but the sun was about to disappear. We cautiously approached the forbidding looking structure, whose 12 front steps of concrete were cracked and dangerous to climb. We all stayed close together, being uncertain of what lay within the crumbling walls of this erstwhile mansion of better days. Doors did not exist. Those there were rotted and lying on the wooden floor. Windows were hanging at various angles. The floors had long rotted, which was due to the lack of a roof, which had also “gone through the eddoes”. The base of a large concrete water cistern was all that was left. We carefully picked our way through this victim of time, neglect and weather. It must have been a beautiful residence and was quite large. We searched diligently for some evidence of human habitation, but there was none. Morne Jaloux house looked so unattractive that no one would really choose to stay there. So there she stood, a skeleton of the past overlooking the quaint city of St. Georges and the roaming countryside. Beautiful site, but not for living. Satisfied that there was nothing at Morne Jaloux we continued our drive to “L’Anse aux Epines”. On our return trip, I persuaded Gordon to take us back to the old house to see if anything had changed. You see, this gaunt, lonely structure had gained the unenviable reputation of being a “haunted house”. Under protest and with much apprehension, we went back to the house. It was now dark, about 7.30. We parked facing the front steps with headlights on, engine off. Sitting quietly in the car and with nothing happening, we decided to walk closer to the house - car lights shining on the entrance, but what were we looking for? - there was just nothing! After a few minutes we headed back to the little Hillman. No sooner had we entered the car than all hell broke loose. There, right in front of us with the car lights shining on it, was a man-sized figure, not solid but transparent and glowing white, moving quickly to and fro in front of the house and the steps. Simultaneously, the most horrible and loud sounds emanated from the house - like grinding metal - like a sugar factory. This was accompanied by other dreadful noises which sounded like several footballs being bounced all over the interior of the old house. Meanwhile, the remaining windows were flapping and flying. The fallen doors were being flung out of the house, down the steps. Worse was the constant flying through the air of large pieces of wood and stones which were slamming into our car. The two ladies fainted from sheer fright. Poor, nervous Gordon could not get the car started. In anxiety and altered judgement he had flooded the carburetor. We had to wait - now truly fearing for our lives. The theatre of horror played on - getting worse - we had to get out of there now! To get to the high grass driveway, we had to reverse towards a cliff which plunged at least a thousand feet down. Luckily we made it and pelted down the long, long driveway. All the way, with glasses rolled up, we were hearing and feeling sticks and stones hitting the poor little car. Later checking showed not a scratch. Once out of there, we hurried to the Richmond Hill Prison, where our good friends, the Banfields lived with their parents. Mr. Banfield was the Resident Superintendent of the prison. We were heartily welcomed by this lovely family who breathlessly listened to our horrible tale and were most concerned for the two young ladies who were still in a severe state of shock. Gordon was crying uncontrollably. He eventually suffered an irreparable nervous breakdown. Also, his sister, whose nervous nature was further provoked. She had many subsequent nervous traumas. The other lady had a most disastrous marriage, ending in her tragic demise. I pretended that it was all a big joke, but my hair still stands on end when I think, talk or write of this awful event in my life. By way of useless explanation, Mr. Banfield of the prison, and later Gordon’s grandfather, Uncle Louis, and several reliable people condemned our actions as irresponsible and crazy. For instance, we did not know that the area of Morne Jaloux was a large sugar estate. The house we investigated was the Great House where the French master resided with his family. We were told that this person was a tyrant and treated his staff and labourers with contempt, deprivation and cruelty. He was reputed to have put to death or tortured many who crossed his path. He was as ruthless as Napoleon. The resentment and ire that this terrible man evoked, built up to a crescendo, when one night he and his entire family were butchered and their remains scattered in and around that hateful house. Thereafter, the estate was abandoned and deserted. It was said that unseen knives and cutlasses had killed or maimed many intruders. The premises were uninhabitable. No one could tolerate the aura of hatred and terror which pervaded the atmosphere - Morne Jaloux house would also perish violently. Several years later, I visited the scene of that horror-filled evening. To my great relief, I saw that there was a beautiful residential settlement in place of the Great House and its surroundings. “Morne Jaloux” house was mysteriously destroyed by fire. Our of evil cometh good. Richmond Hill Prison, Grenada (source: The U.S. National Archives)

Elsie Mabel Gomez wife of Charles S.T. Sheppard My Grandmother 1888 - 1969 - Trinidad Elsie Mabel Gomez was born in Trinidad on 26th May 1988, when the island was a colony of Britian. She was the eldest of nine children born to Joseph Gomez and his wife Christina Pereira, both of Portuguese descent. At the time of her birth, her parents were living in Port of Spain, where her mother's relatives, the Pereira and Mendes families, also resided. Elsie was barely one year old when her sister Audrey was born on 3rd June 1889. Joseph and Christina Gomez' family grew rapidly, and by 1892 when Elsie was five years old, she was big sister to two more siblings - Joseph and Edith. According to birth records, the family was then living at 12 Sorzanoville, Laventille, Trinidad. Public and family records show that by 1893, Joseph Gomez had moved his growing family to Arima, where he became Manager of the Miller's Stores Arima branch. That year Elsie's brother Vincent was born, followed by George (1896), Ivy (1897), William (1900) and baby Euphemia (1905) who died as a baby. By the time her last sibling was born, Grandma Elsie was already a beautiful 17 year old young lady. As the eldest daughter of such a large family, I'm sure Grandma Elsie was a great help to her mother in looking after her younger siblings. Of this I'm pretty sure, because I too am the eldest daughter of a family of seven, my own youngest sibling being born exactly 17 years after me! While we don't have many stories of Elsie's early childhood and education we do know that by the time she was nineteen years old, she had fallen in love and became engaged to the dashing Charlie Sheppard. She describes her romance with him in her memoirs. Gomez Family, Trinidad Picture taken on the day of Elsie's engagement to Charles Sheppard - 1907 l/r: George, Edith, Elsie, Charlie Sheppard, Joseph, Audrey, Vincent. Centre: Joseph (Joe) Gomez & Christina (Pereira) Gomez Front: Ivy & William. Elsie Mabel Sheppard and Charles Sebastian Theodore Sheppard at the Manse of the United Church of Scotland, Port of Spain, Trinidad Grandma Elsie experienced the tragic loss of her beloved Charlie when he was just 45 years old, leaving her a young widow. Their marriage spanned 22 years during which their love produced 13 children. Their story is woven into the story of Charles Sebastian Theodore Sheppard, and the many pages of the Sheppard, Gomez and Mendes Families to be found on this website. With the love and support of her family, she overcame the grief and tragedy of losing her Charlie at such a young age. She never lost her positive outlook to life. Her love and devotion for her family, her optimism and joie de vivre remain etched in my memory of her. Grandma somehow kept her large family united and connected, long before the days of easy texting and communication. She possessed a warm and loving heart and her love was returned to her seven-fold. One of my favourite images of Grandma in later life is in the one of her in the photo below, enjoing a seabath "Down the Islands" of Trinidad, as we used to call them in days gone by before they were known as "DDI". Grandma Elsie went to her rest on 2nd April 1969 at her home in Apple Blossom Avenue, Diego Martin, where she spent the last years of her life in her own cottage next door and under the care of her youngest daughter Flo, Colin and their family. Elsie and Charlie had in all 56 grandchildren and 146 great-grandchildren. Their legacy lives on. On February 26, 1988, my father penned his memories and poignant thoughts about his mother whom he so loved and respected. Her story told through his eyes speaks of her character and induring influence on her children and family. Andrew Sheppard was her tenth child and youngest son. "Our Mother" She was a natural beauty, unspoiled by cosmetics. Her complexion radiated good health and internal peace with her Creator. Elsie Mabel could have been of royal stock. She was indeed a queen. She never would admit poverty, for God had blessed her with many riches for which she so dearly loved and cared – her large family of thirteen children, the last of whom joined the band of angels before he could speak or walk. So there she was, “Queen” Elsie Mabel, with her flock. She had lost her beloved husband and father of these beautiful children, just over three years of her last baby’s demise. What to do? “Mama”, as everyone called her, or “Ma”, turned to her best friend and Saviour without whom we would all surely perish. She believed in the power of prayer and prayed day and night, usually in the absolute privacy of her bedroom, and her very Christian upbringing that she passed on to her children has stood us all in good stead. This very special person was left with many hostages to a fortune that did not exist. Truly, there was the very large house with 10 bedrooms, which our father had deemed very necessary to accommodate such a large family. And a soft drink factory, complete with horse-drawn trucks, motor trucks, hand-carts and some 25 employees. Elsie Mabel did not have a clue. You see, domestic affairs took up all of her time, so when Charlie left her in a hurry on 17 June, 1931, she had no business experience to that date. But, live we must, and the show must go on, and so it did. How could she leave her beautiful home filled with precious gems to administer the Record Soda Water Factory? And so far from home? She sold the building and had another built in the yard of our home so that she could see everything from the kitchen and bedroom windows, when her time had to be so divided. The factory was now part of home. We all loved Mama dearly and stood by her at all times. We really respected her and would never deliberately do anything to hurt her, or say anything rude. Bad words were not allowed at home. Meal times were serious times and to be sure, competition was furious, so we were always on time. Everyone had a task and we did our chores cheerfully. It could not work otherwise. Of course, Elsie Mabel’s religion was of paramount importance, and she insisted that we all observe Sundays by attending Sunday school and church. It was so tempting and certain friends tried in vain to persuade Mamma that she should attend the church just 3 buildings from home. But no, we could not. You see, we were Presbyterians and the church next door was Roman Catholic. In those bad old days you just could not attend a church other than your own – you would be ostracized. So we journeyed to the St. Ann’s Church of Scotland , a beautiful, strongly built church which was constructed by the European victims of religious persecution, and who arrived with their faith intact in Trinidad, in spite of Cromwell’s detestable and cruel policy. So be it. Mama was a pillar of the church and main organizer of fund-raising events. She was a powerhouse and a charming persuader. With good help all around, she prevailed. Of course, necessity being the mother of invention and money being of great importance for our survival, in addition to running a large family and a soft drink factory, and tending her beautiful garden, Mama decided that we needed a few boarders, so this genius of improvisation created additional bedrooms with the help of a carpenter and cellotex partitions. Returning from school daily was facing unexpected surprises. Space was reduced to accommodate paying guests, so we had to squeeze. I almost forgot, additionally we had 10 cousins who lived in the distant Sangre Grande, many of whom were of similar ages to ourselves and they needed to be accommodated in Port-of-Spain in order to attend school. Of course, where else but the No. 30 Richmond Street. So there we were with 6 cousins at a time sharing our single beds with us – head and toe – the pillows a problem, but we soon solved that by waiting for one or the other to fall asleep and then zoom, pillow gone! Ten boarders, 6 cousins, 12 of us, Mama and “poor” little friends (usually 2), say 28-30 people to be fed each and every day, breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner. We all ate a lot of bread, so Ma employed Harris, Barbadian baker who had a problem with testicular hernia always getting in his way. Harris would arrive home and start baking between 3:30 and 4:00 a.m. He supplied us with 100 hops loaves, and 6 pan loaves, plus other sweet breads for tea. He also baked some 30 other pan loaves which had to be delivered to the customers before 7:00 a.m. These were friends of the family who lived the general neighbourhood. Ma had several bread bags made, some to hold one or two or more pan loaves. Each customer had a nail on the back or front porch to hold the stringed bread bag. The empty bag would be replaced by the full one. Each bag had the customer’s name. Problem – transportation. Andrew, Robert, George borrow Boysie’s, Bertie’s and John’s bicycles, surround the bicycles with bags of bread and make sure you return for the owners to get their bicycles to get to work. We “students” had to eat breakfast quickly and walk to school – and get there in time. Many times we failed as evidenced by the black and blues on our hands or backsides as administered by our school masters. But this was all part of life. We loved Mama and understood the situation. The miraculous thing about this wonderful lady called “Mama”, “Ma”, or Elsie Mabel was her abundant optimism and love of her children, which was reciprocal. Of course, we all got married and produced 55 grandchildren for her – all of whom she loved, some in the USA, some in Trinidad, and the largest contingent in Barbados. My wife, Barbadian born, had 7 children. We would not reach a dozen. All through the rough and tough times happiness and sadness were shared by a grateful, lovely Mama, with her tribe. In 1960, her worst blow to date was George’s death. He was number seven – “all good children go to Heaven”. Everyone looked forward to Mama’s Christmas parties, which combined food, drinks and entertainment by the children – all 50 or more. The tradition continues with the grands and great grands. She invented the “Mama pool”. This was a devise to lighten the load on your pocket, whereby everyone brought presents for their own, which Santa distributed. In addition, through stipulated donations, other gifts were purchased along with food and drink. All good things must end. As we have become older and wiser, we all know that whatever strength and courage we have had to possess over the years to survive and achieve in this mind-boggling world, has come from our Divine Creator and this faithful servant, Elsie Mabel, “Mama”, “Ma”. You will never be forgotten. We all hope to eventually join you in Paradise where you went with a smile on your face on April 2, 1969 Andrew Sheppard with his mother Elsie Mabel (Gomez) Sheppard In her own words, her children were her "Precious Jewels" Click on the picture to read Elsie's memoirs Click HERE to see more photos of Elsie Mabel (Gomez) Sheppard Click HERE to see the story of Charles (Charlie) Sheppard and his wife Elsie Mabel

"Belmont" Written on 26th July, 1988 by my father, Andrew Desmond Sheppard (transcribed from personal family memorabilia) Sketch of "Belmont" by my brother Peter when we lived there in 1960. Peter was then 11 years old. It was during the early sixties that my dear wife Betty and I decided to avail ourselves of an excellent opportunity. An English-styled mansion named “Belmont” in the beautiful parish of St. John became available for rent. It belonged to the family of the late Dr. Hanschell, whose son Michael occupied the property, where he lived with his family. Michael was an Agricultural Scientist and he had recently been transferred or accepted an appointment to Belize. He was in the Colonial Service. Belmont was spacious, with seven bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs. Downstairs contained a front patio which overlooked the beautiful valley and beyond; a large living room and a large dining room. At the west side entrance there was the hall reception area and in the back was the large kitchen and buttery, etc. The house was fully furnished in antique mahogany. In the front patio at Belmont overlooking the valley - early 1960 l/r Valerie, Betty, Andrew, Winifred Sheppard who was visiting, on her lap my sister Frances, standing far right is my brother Peter. Two of the children in the back row were boarders and one a visiting friend. Outside in the front was a sunken garden with a variety of flower-bearing plants. On the western side there was an open clay-tiled patio with a building which was used as the doctor’s office and clinic. A pitch-covered roadway separated the house from the enclosed fruit and vegetable garden within which area was housing for poultry and animals such as sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits, etc. Behind the house was an area of land with breadfruit and other large trees. On the eastern side of the house there was a well-kept lawn. A wall of stone surrounded the property. A large evergreen tree shaded the house from the afternoon sun. The monthly rental was $160.00. Why move from Navy Gardens to this out-of-the-way place? Our family was becoming larger and space was at a premium, Also, the prospect of living in the countryside afforded our five children (at the time) to enjoy the fresh air and wide open spaces. There was, too, the opportunity of accommodating some boarders for the nearby schools of Presentation College and Codrington High School. The Brothers of the college were very pleased and introduced six boys to us for board, lodging and discipline. One from Trinidad, three from St. Vincent, one Venezuelan, one American. Miss Carter, the Headmistress of Codrington High School, sent three girls to us. One from England one from Canada, one from St. Vincent. Apart from these very interesting children, we further obliged the Presentation Brothers to look after little Jones who arrived penniless by air from Venezuela with a note to the Brothers promising future financial and other arrangements. His parents were American and he worked in the oilfields in Venezuela. We adopted Jones. Very intelligent, good looking, cocky and ten years old. No clothing but what he wore, There were Sonsoles and Carmen, two beauties who were stranded at the Ursuline Convent at Christmas time and whose mother deserted them. She was a Spanish Countess and a divorcee who seemed to travel constantly. We also adopted Sonsoles and Carmen. So here we were, properly ensconced in this lovely old house, the only outer sounds being from birds and breeze. Truly heavenly and so peaceful. Andy and Betty and their five children, eldest 15, youngest 2, six boys and four girls from overseas. All had to be provided with beds, including clean linen, all to be served with breakfast, lunch boxes all filled, tea and dinner. With us two adults, the number of us seated for meals was 14. Just as well I was brought up in a family of 12 children plus 2 parents and 6 boarders. A piece of cake! Poor Betty. I arranged with the owner of a Volkswagen bus to take the children to Presentation College and Codrington. He was very reliable and was a driver in my company when I was a Lieutenant, Royal Engineers, in Trinidad during the war - Mr. Gill. Lawrence, the old chauffeur of the Hanschells, drove my Vauxhall car with our children to the Convent in Bridgetown. I, as Sales Manager of the Barbados Bottling Co. Ltd., had to be at Roebuck Street in Bridgetown at 7.30 a.m. Yes, we did it, but not without the usual problems and worries attending such a challenge. It took much planning, thinking and patience, coupled with love and forbearance. Here was this group of young children, far away from home, the youngest being 8 and the eldest 15. The eldest girl 15, Rachel* , plain, crafty and intelligent, was considered by Codrington to be a misfit. She was English and her father, well placed with Shell Oil in Trinidad, pleaded with us to accommodate and look after her, as the school could not tolerate her as a boarder. After a period of teasing by the boys and living with such a large family, Susan blended with everyone and became quite popular. She even improved in her school work. She is now on the English stage. Annie * was special. Father American, mother Bajan. Lived in Venezuela and USA. Spoilt but quite pleasant with the others. Got married eventually and has her own family in the USA. Little Rosa*. Her father was Barbadian and was a Judge in the High Court in St. Vincent. She was a lovely child, well brought up. No problem. Selena *, pretty, blonde and Spanish, age 10, very talented in singing and dancing. She and her younger sister Aurasita* were very affectionate and helpful. Pity was that their mother did not care enough to even send pocket money and the nuns would not keep them because no money was forthcoming. Likewise, Smith . His parents never communicated with us. Just left this poor little human being out on a limb, at the mercy of the world. We loved him, cared and understood him, but he soon became problematical. A Venezuelan boy from Presentation, much older, tried to persuade him to leave us and go with him. He was wild. I had to enlist the aid of the US Embassy here to contact his father and we had to send Jones back to where he belonged, in Venezuela. We never knew his parents. Financially, a total loss. Then there were the boys. Foremost was Henry* , a model student, pure boy, athletic, with a good sense of humour. He was Betty’s nephew and was a good example to the other children. Rob *, a dreamer - Trinidadian mother and American father, who worked in the oil industry in Venezuela. pleasant fellow who produced some peculiar tales. Roberto* , Venezuelan. Father, General Manager of Ford of Venezuela. Best Scout, good boy, bad temper. Difficult to handle because of language problems. Also, he had difficulty in getting along with others. Last time I saw him, he was a Colonel in the Venezuelan army, visiting Barbados with his family. Manuel* - always a nice person. From St. Vincent, of Trinidadian parents. His dad was an old friend of mine. Cooperative, pleasant, good student. Real boy. Sam *. Unhappy child. From St. Vincent of Vincentian father and Trinidadian mother. Father a wealthy planter. Never liked to study. Smoked too many cigarettes. Hard to reach. Generally very withdrawn. A very sad case. He never improved. Got worse and worse. Returned to live in St. Vincent and became very involved in heavy illegal drugs. One night his father shot him dead. What a waste of humanity - very sad indeed. His father was exonerated on the charge of murder as he shot John who attacked his mother for money to buy drugs. Most important was our family who must have found it very confusing to see all of these strange children invading their privacy. God bless them all. They must have understood because they got along very well with their new-found friends. For entertainment, I hired or borrowed a film projector and films from either the Empire Cinema, Pan American Airways or the Government Information Service, and with a large screen placed at the side of the lawn we showed our young friends a variety of amusing and interesting films. We always invited teachers and children from the nearby boarding houses. Hot dogs, Coca-Cola and impromptu concerts rounded off the night. This was for Saturdays only. Occasionally we would play music by gramophone and dance and sing, always with other company. Betty was at the centre of all this, being musical director and dance instructress. Sundays we went to Church. Roman Catholics to nearby Verdun, next to Presentation College and Anglicans to Codrington High School Chapel. Imagine the laundry, bathing arrangements, shoe-cleaning, gardening, cleaning. I arranged with Mr. Branch, a planter from Claybury, that he would send to cut my grass for his animals and he would give us yams, eddoes and sweet potatoes. Good deal. Robert Nurse from the tenantry next door became our gardener. He was a field labourer but worked for us in his off hours. He still works for us. On Sundays after Church I would drive them all to Bathsheba or Bath in the tray of the Coca-Cola van which was loaned to me by the Company. This we all enjoyed. Got back in time for lunch and afternoon rest. Some Saturdays I would take the “family” to Drive-In and would reverse the van to the screen. Some special nights they would charge $2.00 per car load. They did not specify VAN-load so I was able to entertain at least 12 children for $2.00. Not bad at all. Entertaining "Superman" at Belmont One of the greatest nights was when I brought “Superman” home. His real name was Hector Fares. He was Argentinian and was a professional wrestler and strong-man. A man of immense strength. We of Barbados Bottling Co., Bottlers of Coca-Cola, employed Superman in conjunction with the Coca-Cola Company, to promote Coke in Barbados. I, as new Sales Manager, undertook the project, hired the Kensington Oval for the biggest show ever staged there, and entertained our large, strong and pleasant visitor. He spoke no English so I acted as his interpreter. I speak and read Spanish. So, after the show I had a large party for Superman at Belmont. We invited many influential people and lots of youngsters. The children, as well as the adults, were thrilled to meet Superman. The party was a roaring success. Susan fell in love with Superman. At the Oval, to a crowd of over 10,000, Superman performed the following stunts:- 1) Pulled a Coca-Cola truck fully laden with 300 cases of King Size Coke with a leather bit in his mouth attached to chains which were attached to the from chassis of the truck, he leaning and walking backwards. 2) Ripped a large American Telephone Directory to shreds with his bare hands. 3) Nailed 2 thick pieces of wood (3” pine) with his bare hand using a 6” galvanized iron nail, then pulled it out with his teeth. 4) Had 4 powerful motorcycles connected to his neck and arms with strong ropes and the experienced cyclists failed to move him from a standing position. 5) Two x 4-wheeled jeeps tried to move him by the same method but failed. 6) The strongest man in Barbados smashed a large stone on his chest with a sledge hammer. Many other stunts were performed by our genial giant, who consumed 12 eggs and 1 lb. bacon plus 1 sandwich loaf and a jug of coffee for breakfast, 4 large steaks and large quantities of other food items for lunch and at dinner similar amounts of food and drink. He needed it, poor fellow. I met him years later in Trinidad and again I sponsored him and his team of large international wrestlers. He was manager and referee. A year later I heard that he died in Argentina from an acute heart attack. He did what he could, when he could. Many afternoons (5.30 - 6.30) we would take long walks along the peaceful country roads. It was a real joy - no traffic, cool breeze blowing. Belmont was over 900 feet above sea level. Accompanying Betty and me were our five children plus ten boarders. Also there were our dog “Sums”, who earned his name after his left rear leg was injured in an accident. He could only put down three and carry one! “Hornick” the big playful white sow whom the children loved, “Elcock” the red strutting rooster, “Marmie” the tomcat and a couple of hand-held rabbits. Belmont was a pleasant and interesting experience. The day came, after 2 years, when the owner died abroad and his English-born wife wished to reside in the U.K. so the property was offered for sale. For myself, it was not in the best interests of all of us to stay there. Our boarders returned home and we moved to central Belleville in the city. I undertook a position requiring me to travel constantly throughout the Caribbean so I was at home on some weekends only. One night, after everyone had settled to sleep, I sat on the bench on the western patio enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. “Sums”, my faithful Labrador, was lying nearby. Suddenly, I heard foot-steps coming up the winding gravel driveway from the public road below, footsteps heavily crushing the fallen leaves and gravel. As they came closer, I stood up and shone my flashlight in the direction from which the sounds came. There was nothing to be seen. And yet the heavy slow steps came closer. “Sums”, his hair standing on end, cringed and howled and rubbed against me, but did not bark. I shouted challenges to the unseen thing but there was no response. In a mood of fear and disbelief I ran towards the sound, flashlight shining, swinging my walking stick and “it” ran ahead of me, going straight through the closed iron gate on the northern side. I gave up. Poor frightened Sums, our faithful brave barking dog, was silent and tried by scraping the front door to the house to get into the safety and warmth of the big house. I quickly followed and got under my blankets. When I related this incident, I was told that it must have been the “old master” taking an after-dinner stroll. This was meant to imply that I had heard and felt a ghost - or what was it? On another occasion, in the rear bedroom, Betty’s sister Clem, visiting from Canada, shared a double bed with our daughter, Valerie. Clem heard a noise and, quite naturally sat up and looked, to see this old, grey-haired man seated at the bottom of the bed, with a smile on his face. She called to us and we rushed in to find Clem hugging Valerie tightly. They had both seen the nice old man - who disappeared. They both shared our bed with us for the remainder of the night. He strolled leisurely throughout the house on many other occasions. The “old master”. Just checking. After we left Belmont, it was rented to an English potter and eventually was sold to Lt. Col. Herbert Dowding, Parliamentarian and Commanding Officer of the Barbados Regiment, then General Manager of the Barbados Agricultural Development Corporation. He altered the internal structure for comfort and convenience, added a lift and modernised the old kitchen. He sold Belmont later to Mrs. Julien, a wealthy Grenadian widow who spent a great deal of money in installing a swimming pool and other elaborate "improvements". She eventually sold the property to Mr. Philip Goddard, who still lives there. “Belmont” was constructed in 1730, as inscribed on the chimney above the kitchen. This was shown to me by the late Mr. Michael Hanschell on one of his rare visits. To my family and myself, “Belmont” remains a fond memory. *For reasons of Privacy, I have changed the names of the children who boarded with us at Belmont; the story is otherwise unedited, as written by my father. - Valerie Sheppard

Victor Colin Johnson husband of Edith Florence (Flo) Sheppard 1924 - 2005 Eulogy written by his eldest daughter Christine Patience Colin, Daddy, Grandpa, Uncle Colin, Mr. Ceejay, Boss - was born in Barbados to Barbadian parents Douglas Dowding Johnson and Iris Foster on December 8, 1924. He was the eldest child in a family of four (Maguriette, Lloyd and Angela). Daddy grew up at a time very different to now, a time when people enjoyed the simple things in life, a lot of outdoor activities, when men booked dances with ladies, your vehicle of choice when you were courting was a bicycle and people got married very young for the right reasons. It was a time of chivalry, family unity and adventure. As a result, Daddy left his much loved home in Barbados at eighteen and headed for the green Trinity hills of Trinidad (as many people did back then) to craft his future. He started his career at Cable & Wireless as a telegraph operator. Shortly after that at age twenty-one, he found himself in the magical spell of the beautiful Florence Sheppard and would have celebrated sixty years of marriage next year May. Daddy not only got married to a "Trini" but also ended up with six brothers and five sisters and their partners. He became a brother and a true friend to all of them. Colin and Florence (Flo) - 4 May, 1946 His working life successfully spanned companies such as Citrus Growers Association and Neal & Massy but of course the best was when he took the plunge and founded his own company some twenty-five years ago - Ceejay Engineering Limited. He successfully built and grew this family owned company from the back room of their home at Appleblossom Avenue where he was comfortable working in his pyjamas and short pants. Over the twenty five years he shared his knowledge freely. Just a "simple man of trade" with a wealth of knowledge in the field of engineering. Always giving his technical advice freely. He was proud to have accomplished all he did in his life and in particular, his business career. He loved the company he built and continued working right up until his recent surgery. Daddy was a simple, humble, hardworking, committed person. He was guided by a set of strong moral values. Daddy had faith in people and a trust that they would always do the right and honourable thing. He was always forgiving, never spoke ill of anyone nor did he ever encourage any ill words of anyone. He kept his feelings and thoughts to himself. Caring, quiet, kind and sentimental were some of his other traits. In business, he was a leader, decisive but always took the time to comuicate with his customers, suppliers and staff. Although, he did not take advice easily, he was a fair person and a good listener. Besides work, Daddy had other passions - Family, Food, Gardening, Writing, Driving and Sight-seeing. He was always happy to take his "Harem of Ladies" (Jessie, Ida, Sybil, Angela, Nora and recently Joan) for leisurely drives or to the "Bight" for some fish cakes and a drink of Fridays after a long hard week and a good deposit at the bank. Daddy still did the company banking, since he liked to go in and chat and maintain a personal relationship. He thought that was very important. Daddy never belonged to any social, sporting or golf clubs. He was content to work hard and come home to his wife and family. Daddy had Flo well trained from Day One. She just had to hear his car horn beep once and she would be up and opening the gate, even in the rain. She got so good at it she just had to hear the engine as he turned the corner. When they were married fifty years, we thought it was time we gave them an electronic gate but Dad would just smile, as he had his own special "gate-opener". Family was high on his priority list and it was reflected in family vacations, of which we have very memorable ones - at Toco (Patience's Bay) and Barbados. He especially loved when it involved several family members being there. He loved a good joke, even blushing and laughing over the few rude ones he gave, and he often shared these jokes with his "Sea Bathing Buddies" as they enjoyed the beautiful Barbados water. He would get so mad whenever we teased him that the Trinidad beaches and sea were "just like Barbados". He was so happy with and proud of ALL his children, grand and great-grands (the last being his namesake, Colin). He loved being a part of their lives, but not in an interfering way. Colin and Flo on their Golden Wedding Anniversary, 4 May 1996 with their children Michael, Jeffrey, Christine and Carol-Lyn Daddy loved to eat, especially good old local foods (yam, eddoes, sweet potato, Oil-down, Souse and let's not forget Cou Cou and Flying Fish!) He could always tell you where you could get the best meals on any holiday. His eyes sparkled and mouth watered at the thought of the Atlantis Sunday Buffet. Mummy would cringe any time Daddy was planning a party (there would be cooking for days). After coming back home from vacations abroad, Daddy had to pass through St. James to pick up a few rotis. In his youth they fondly nicknamed him "Ocean", probably due to his healthy appetite. Gardening was Daddy's relaxation, destresser and joy. He loved his kitchen garden and roses, which he lovingly planted, nurtured and grafted with great care and patience. Daddy was very meticulous about his weeding, no nut grass or stones got away as he sat for hours on his home-made wooden stool. Writing was another favourite pastime. Every Christmas card had a personal note included. When at boarding school, I was probably the only girl who received regular and lengthy letters keeping me in touch with home. Most recently, he embarked on writing his very detailed and graphic memoirs from his early years- from two-and-a-half years, and had just reached age seventeen. I guess we have to complete this task with Mummy filling in the missing parts. Finally, as the doctor promised, "Colin, you will enjoy a far greater quality of life after this operation". And it is true, only not what we had in mind. Colin has gained something however much more precious than that - he has gained Eternal Life. Colin, Daddy, Grandpa, Uncle Colin, Mr. Ceejay, Boss - go on now and Rest in Peace and continue planting in your Heavenly Garden "Up Yonder".

Click on the buttons to watch the videos Remembering Audrey Video Tribute by Audrey's granddaughter, Laila van der Meulen Photos provided by Clark and van der Meulen families Video clips provided by Meindert van der Meulen Swing on Down Audrey's daughters Lola and Susan, along with Susan's son-in-law Donavon Frankenreiter and her son Michael, performing at her Memorial Service on October 16,2016 - San Clemente, California. This video was made by Meindert for the Memorial Service of Audrey's husband, Don Clark. Don passed away in San Clemente, California in 2009 when he was 93. Audrey was my father's sister, the sibling who came next after him. They grew up together and and he loved her dearly. Dad would wake early in the morning and write about his childhood memories. I found this sweet recollection about Audrey among his various writings. Daddy passed away when he was only 68, but his beloved sister lived on until she was 92 and I was able to share this with her a few years ago. "AUDREY" by Andrew Sheppard . When I was just a little lad Born 1922 in Trinidad I had a little sister named Audrey Who was so very, very pretty. Audrey was blonde and blue-eyed too And was the envy of all who Had the pleasure of her company Who was a delight to hear and see Especially when she felt happy. She sang and danced both day and night A real treat to behold, that’s right! When Audrey tapped her toes in tune Many a boy was apt to swoon And when she sang those beautiful blues She all but sent you through your shoes! When once there was a contest for a prize For beauty and talent to be apprised T’was between a Chinese-creole named Thora And little Audrey, each of a different colour T’was counted from the number of newspaper clippings The public sent for their choice from their siblings And though we tried so hard to collect The clippings fell short with great regret The result was not fair and was judged By who could buy the most papers with pictures severed The total of each pretty face was counted in favour Of she whose presence on paper exceeded the other. Unfortunately and in universal dismay The result threw our family in great disarray To think that one so absolutely beautiful and gifted Should lose through insufficient pictures counted. From then until this very day, I’ll always feel That popularity can never be decided From the sale of newspapers so guided The Queen of the local Trinidad scene Remained our dear, sweet Audrey supreme. The years went by, and as you guessed Sweet Audrey’s lovely attitude was blessed With thoughts of others of only the best. She met in Trinidad and married a young man Who was a qualified engineer and an American. Don Clark was the name of this affable gent Who met, mixed with and blended his accent With those of our family of La Belle Trinidad And all else whom he met he thought “not bad”. But sorry to say, there came that sad day When Audrey and Don and Susan their daughter Packed bags and left us for the great U.S.A. Taking with them the cause of happy laughter. Don and Audrey were married in March forty-three Still loving and caring for others and each other What a wonderful spirit our Audrey has Optimism rules her every thought and deed. 18 March, 1943 St. Ann's Church of Scotland, Port of Spain, Trinidad Audrey was the 11th child in the Sheppard Family. In this family photo, she is the blonde girl on the far left, holding her baby sister Flo's hand. Next to her is my father, Andrew.