Dot Sheppard is a stalwart of the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta and has been for many years.
From Solihull originally, Dot moved down to Dartmouth with husband Brian after enjoying years of holidaying in the town. Well, we say she moved down, initially it was weekends only for a couple of years for Dot as she had lots of other commitments in Solihull!
During this time Dot, who has always had a keen interest in volunteering, started helping with selling the Grand Draw tickets. Working with Ray Langman, one of the best years was in 2005 when the profits from the ticket sales were over £12,000! In fact, in 2013, Dot was recognised as collector of the year by the committee for raising over £3000 through organising our much loved Spot the Oddity and Best Dressed Window competitions in the town.
Says Dot, ‘I have always loved the Regatta and helping out, starting off as a volunteer, then being persuaded to join the committee in 2004 by Janice Brown and Basil Williams! I have done all sorts, including helping to organise the raffle for the Regatta Ball, and assisting Jonathan Hawkins with the Regatta Fete, always having great fun with the heavy gang lads on where to put the bunting and lights, as well as doing the legwork for Spot the Oddity for years with Pam Moore. I used to start selling Grand Draw tickets early in the year and would always have a book in my bag for people to buy. In fact, some shopkeepers used to groan slightly when they saw me coming with Spot the Oddity paperwork!’
One of Dot’s favourite traditions is ‘Bob the Cock’. He was presented to the Old Dartmothians by the Ship In Dock pub, and has been given to the ‘Regatta’ on loan every year for the duration of the event ever since. His job is to be ‘seen’ around the town during our Regatta. One year Dot remembers he went missing – someone had left him on the bandstand after we had all packed up for the night, and one of the committee members was so cross he had been left out he was taken him home in secret for 12 months. It was only the following year at Regatta that he reappeared! Dot knows Bob well, and has a great working relationship with him; the photo tells the story well!
In addition to the Regatta committee, Dot is kept busy looking after the Catholic Church in Dartmouth, as well as being a committee member for the Sea Cadets, The Old Darts and the Trefoil Guild, a branch of Girl-guiding for over 18s. She is a proud grandmother to Sam, and mother to her son Philip and his wife Annie.
During Regatta week you can find Dot in our information hut, where she always has a cheery smile (and a cup of tea) for locals and visitors alike. The committee would like to thank Dot for all her hard work, and look forward to working with her for many years to come.
