South Yorkshire Times January 14, 1956

Call of the Sea
Back to Whalers for Denaby Man

The call of the sea was too great for 23-year-old Dick Sheppard, 57 Tickhill Street, Denaby Main. After serving in the Merchant Navy you resume work at Denaby Main but could not settle down as a “landlubber,” and signed on again – in a whaling ship, the Southern Harvester.

In a letter to his mother and father you told them that he is now somewhere in Antarctic waters.

This is not his first experience of whale hunting, however, as during previous service at sea you are so engaged, and brought to two whale teeth home for his mother. They were mounted on wooden bases. He also brought home penguin eggs.

At Christmas he sent home a greetings telegrams from the Antarctic. He has signed on for nine months but in a letter to his mother he has told her that he may stay for two years.

Dick is a “veteran” of many ships are served in many tankers but, he told his mother, he likes Whalers best.

At Christmas, Dick played for the Englishman of the ship in a football match – against the Scotsmen (the Englishman one)

Dick’s father, Mr R.H.Shephard, is a Conisbrough Councillor.

Photo from:

http://www.teesbuiltships.co.uk/