Emmy Sheppard
To celebrate Women’s History Month this March, we are shining a light on remarkable women either born or connected to Axminster and its surrounding villages.
We begin with a lady that many of our more senior residents may well remember – Emily Kathleen Sheppard, known within our community as, Emmy Sheppard. Emmy, (who had two older sisters), was born in 1894 to Sydney and Caroline Sheppard (originally from Bere Regis and Milverton respectively but moved to Axminster in about 1890). Her father, Sydney, was a grocer’s assistant in Axminster while Emmy was growing up, but by 1911 he was managing a grocer’s shop in his own name on South Street.
As an adult, Emmy worked as secretary to the Dawkins family, later becoming company secretary. After the Dawkins family sold their interest in the business to a Mr Burrough she continued to work there, and in 1943 became the major shareholder. Emmy ran the shop (still under the name Edwin Dawkins & Son) for 30 years, until in May 1973 when the shop and stock were bought by Frederick Baker of Trinity Square. In her private life, Emmy was a great supporter of the town in which she was born and was active in local affairs – most notably as President of the Axminster Carnival organising committee. Emmy Sheppard died in 1983.
So, those are some of the historical facts we know about Emmy Sheppard’s life. . . but what else can we learn about Emmy, the person? How can we learn more and celebrate a woman whose life was intrinsically linked to our town? With Emmy, YOU make that possible through your memories and interactions with her. How many of our followers remember Emmy? What was she like? Do you have a particularly fond memory of her? Did you shop at Dawkins? Were you involved with the carnival? We are asking for anyone with memories or photographs of Emmy to share them with us so we can expand on what we already know about this remarkable woman.
