Basildon's tributes to D-Day hero veteran Don Sheppard

Baroness Angela Smith of Basildon, now a cabinet minister as Leader of the House of Lords, got to know Don well when she was MP for Basildon.

• Read more: Basildon D-Day hero Don Sheppard dies at the age of 104

Lady Smith, who served as MP from 1997 to 2010, said: “He took joy in every moment. Don made you want to be better at what you did to make him proud of you.

“I still have the pendant from the Normandy celebrations that he gave me, that is something I have kept and treasured for many years.

“Because of what he went through, he wanted life to be fulfilling and I was always amazed by how active he was, dancing into his 80s!”

True friends - Don with close pal Mike Horton (Image: Provided)

Mike Horton who accompanied Don and fellow Normandy veterans on many trips across to France and Holland over the years through events organised by the Eastgate Shopping Centre in Basildon, added: “Don was one of the best friends I ever had. I am devastated.

“One personal thing that I will never forget, though, was his kindness. He insisted on coming to my father’s funeral, despite never meeting him. My father was a Navy veteran and Don’s dignified presence there, even at the age of 93 gave us a great deal of comfort. He was the star attendee of our reception- even if we were all a little wobbly afterwards!”

Back on his bike - Don at the 2023 D-Day ceremony in Rettendon (Image: Provided)

Richard Green, secretary of the Essex Branch of the Coldstream Guards Association met Don seven years ago at the Normandy Veterans’ Club.

“He was a true friend and gentleman,” said Richard. “Through the years our bond became greater and he would ask me to do him a few favours, the first being to re-mount all his medals from the war, which was a great honour to me. His dedication to veterans was second to none.”

Ann Robinson, headteacher of Buttsbury Junior School in Billericay, where Don’s daughter Jo works as a teacher, said Don’s countless visits to the school over the years made a huge impact on the children.

Military messenger- Don as a wartime despatch rider (Image: Provided)

“He has been an inspiration to us all,” she said. “He has joined us for every Remembrance Day for as long as I can remember and his presence - standing and saluting at the front of the school during The Last Post and subsequent two minutes’ silence - brought a sense of solemnity that is hard to capture in words.

“For the children, seeing a war veteran and the medals he had earned serving his country, helped them to understand the sacrifices made by others so that we today are able to live in relative peace.

“The children loved to listen to Mr Sheppard and he used to make me smile when he told them to work hard and follow the rules.”