John Sheppard

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4XMOKE
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John Sheppard

Post by 4XMOKE »

I've just heard that John Sheppard passed away last Sunday.
Rest in peace John.

A true gentleman and genius designer.





Roger G
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My other Moke is an Ant....
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Wally2
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Re: John Sheppard

Post by Wally2 »

More info here
http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/to ... ard-r-i-p/
He was the last of the original mini design team.
Chris
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1967moke
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Re: John Sheppard

Post by 1967moke »

Sad news indeed, I think it would be very appropriate to include an obituary in the June magazine.

Would anyone be prepared to write one?

Thanks

Roy
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Dean
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Re: John Sheppard

Post by Dean »

John pictured here with Nigel Jones at the clubs 20th bithday weekend in 2003.
Dean

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Doug G
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Re: John Sheppard

Post by Doug G »

1967moke wrote:Sad news indeed, I think it would be very appropriate to include an obituary in the June magazine.

Would anyone be prepared to write one?

Thanks

Roy

I too, think it would be very appropriate to include an obituary in the June magazine.
Having a moking good time!
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Re: John Sheppard

Post by Wally2 »

1967moke wrote:Sad news indeed, I think it would be very appropriate to include an obituary in the June magazine.

Would anyone be prepared to write one?

Thanks

Roy
Hi Roy,
I could have a go at writing something but I would need help from people who knew or met him. If anyone could send me recollections of meeting him etc. including any photos (like the one above taken at the clubs 20th anniversary), I could attempt to put something together.
Cheers
Chris
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Re: John Sheppard

Post by Wally2 »

Hi all,
Steve Hall and I attended John's funeral today in my Moke, we were in good company with Mini's, Ant's and a 9X!

Below is a press release, and photos are attached, from the funeral of John Sheppard, one of the original Mini design team.

Press Release

Mini tribute to the man who drew the Mini

John Sheppard (24 February 1922 – 29 March 2015)

A special parade of Mini and Mini related vehicles joined together on the streets of Stourbridge on Friday 17 April for the funeral of John Sheppard, the last surviving member of the original Mini design team, who sadly passed away aged 93, on 29 March.

“The man who loved to draw” started work in the drawing office of BSA at the age of 16. From there he moved on to draw aircraft parts, then cars, joining Alvis in 1945. In 1952 Alec Issigonis joined Alvis and John was recruited into his design team. When Issigonis left Alvis to re-join BMC in December 1955 he lost no time in recruiting John Sheppard to join him as draughtsman. It was John who drew the beautiful curves of the Mini as we know it, interpreting the scribbled drawings Issigonis made on scraps of paper. John continued to work with Issigonis on and off for the rest of Issigonis’ working years, and the pair were close friends until Sir Alec’s death. John retired in 1982. He continued to take an active interest in the Mini, taking part in the milestone events in its history.

The special collection of cars represented examples of John’s work, from the mighty Mini, launched in 1959, the Mini Estate, the Mini Moke, launched to the public in 1964 after undergoing extensive military trials, and two examples of prototypes of the Austin Ant, which John nicknamed ‘Alec’s New Toy’, aimed at the market between the Moke and the Land Rover, which sadly never entered production. The 1969 9X, Alec Issigonis’ small hatchback which he intended as the Mini’s successor but which again never entered production, owed its development mainly to John, who single-handedly interpreted Sir Alec’s vision.
Vehicles taking part in the funeral tribute:
At John Sheppard’s house
Heritage Motor Museum, Gaydon: 1969 Blue 9X prototype

Parade (front to back):
Keith Woodfield: 1959 Clipper Blue Morris Mini Minor
Tanya and Jason Field: 1960 Speedwell Blue Austin Seven
Paul Orton: 1965 Almond Green Austin Mini Countryman
Chris Waldram: 1965 Austin Mini Moke
Chris Tallents: 1968 Green Austin Ant
Trevor Ripley: 1968 White Austin Ant
Suzanne and Chris Johns: 1970 Red and White Australian 1275 Morris Cooper S
Kay Drury: 2000 Platinum Silver Rover Mini S Works

Thanks to the 1959 Mini Register, The Mini Traveller and Countryman Register, the Mini Moke Club, the Heritage Motor Museum at Gaydon, and Mini friends for helping to assemble a great selection of tribute cars.

Words and photos: Kay Drury

Kay is News Editor for MiniWorld Magazine (http://www.miniworld.co.uk). She knew John for several years and interviewed him in depth for MiniWorld in the March and April 2012 issues. “John was a true gentleman and a lovely man, I am proud to have had the opportunity to get to know him and call him a friend. I know he would have loved seeing all the cars today, and to have known that Gaydon loaned us the 9X to park on his drive! RIP John.”

Image
Image
Image
Black and white photo: John at his full size Mini drawing board at Longbridge.

It was a very moving funeral, John was obviously a very nice chap who was extremely well loved by his family, a sad loss to the Mini fraternity.

More photos of the cars taking part today will go on the gallery soon.

Chris & Steve
Last edited by Wally2 on Tue Apr 21, 2015 7:22, edited 1 time in total.
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Tim
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Re: John Sheppard

Post by Tim »

I can't help noticing how similar John's chair is to the early low back seats used in the Aussie Mokes. :D

Tim
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Re: John Sheppard

Post by spider »

Tim wrote:I can't help noticing how similar John's chair is to the early low back seats used in the Aussie Mokes. :D

Tim
Working with what they had to hand!

Nice spoto ;)
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Re: John Sheppard

Post by Wally2 »

More photos of the day are now in the gallery.
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Re: John Sheppard

Post by Tim »

What an amazing legacy those cars represent.

Its nice to see the Australian Cooper S amongst them and the Ants look wonderful.

Tim
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Re: John Sheppard

Post by Wally2 »

Hi Tim,
The Moke didn't look too bad either, but them I'm biased!
I thought the white Ant looked brilliant (the green one was great as well) the colour really suited it - I want one!
We were behind the Australian Mini for a while and couldn't understand why it had a strange rear number plate i.e. it was sort of square with a square depression in the boot lid to match. This meant that the numbers/letters were smaller than usual. It wasn't until we stopped and talked to the owner that we realised that was one of the many slight changes that made it what it was. It makes it pretty unusual for it to be over here and it gets lots of attention from other mini owners.
Cheers
Chris
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Nigel(no top)Sykes
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Re: John Sheppard

Post by Nigel(no top)Sykes »

Did you take a gander at the doors on it? I wouldn't say they are slight :shock:
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Wally2
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Re: John Sheppard

Post by Wally2 »

Hi Nigel, mmmmm you mean the quarter lights?
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Re: John Sheppard

Post by Nigel(no top)Sykes »

And external (as on the Mk1) hinges and the flush handles
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