My mother, Sheila Swift died on 26 April 2026 with sun streaming through the window, a gentle breeze blowing and trees outside coming into leaf. Indeed, it was her perfect weather and so appropriate to end her life at the age of 91 years – a life she’d lived to the full with great enthusiasm until the last weeks.
Sheila arrived in Upper II at Fairfield in January 1944 and continued to the High School, leaving in 1952; given how often she recalled times at school – they were the happiest of years. She was one of many of the extended Shepherd family who benefited from LHS and LGS – four generations in fact – her father and uncle before her, sisters and cousins with her, and myself and my brother afterwards, and granddaughters at Amherst after that.
And from the very start mum’s love and ability for sport meant that throughout her time at LHS she was in numerous sports teams; tennis, netball, hockey, rounders – and always playing to win. In an article she wrote for Beyond the Barrier in 2019 she recalls the details of fellow team mates, schools they played against – all from memory with the back up of ancient notebooks she had kept all these years that listed who made up the teams. Infact the LHS memorabilia kept in various boxes and bags was evidence of the enthusiastic archivist she was. The High School and myself are recipients of all manner of ‘stuff’, wartime pencils, sports team colours, guide badges, school reports, old ties…and on it goes.
Sheila, would have loved to stay on at school in the 6th Form and gone into higher education; she wanted to be a teacher. But as for many girls of her generation, her father wouldn’t allow it and she went instead to Loughborough college to train in shorthand and typing. From here she worked as a secretary in her father and uncle’s construction firm, Corahs, and from there went to work in Hathern at Fuller and Hambly hosiery manufacturers. It was in Hathern, taking the office post to the post office each late afternoon that she met my father, Tony Swift (LGS 1947), and working in the ‘other’ hosiery firm of J Alex Swift. They married in 1956 and after a few years in Long Whatton, moved to Hathern where she lived the rest of her life until the last year when she moved to Cedar House Care Home in Rothley for a very happy last few months.
Married life was one of helping out at the factory, and supporting dad, bringing up us two children and delighting in the large garden – she was such a plantswoman. But most importantly, and something she absorbed from her time at LHS was her sense of service, commitment and duty. Starting with helping with the village Baby Clinic in the 1960s, and later the History Society, she then found a wonderful community in the Women’s Institute – and here not only took on many responsibilities, but had the opportunity to learn a wide range of crafts to an expert standard and subsequently became a judge of these crafts and taught tatting – the one she excelled at – at the WI’s Denman College. She always reminded us that it was the WI that finally gave her the opportunity to teach – and she loved it!
Her love of sport continued with bowls; together with dad they played for Kegworth Bowls Club and mum continued playing until her late 80s, two decades after dad had sadly died.
Infact everything Sheila did she undertook with great gusto and enthusiasm – and was therefore a great encourager of others. Many people can testify to her patience and generously given expertise.
But running through her life, and something she never would acknowledge as anything other than ‘normal’ was her formidable memory! Reeling off who was in what class at school was absolutely no problem to her and left us all amazed. This memory showed itself wonderfully in September 2024 when the renovated Sixth Form Centre at the Grammar School was opened. Due to a legacy left by her uncle, Arthur Shepherd (LGS 1914), not only have a long line of children benefited from scholarships, but funds were also agreed for the renovation. At the opening ceremony, mum drew back the curtain from the plaque and without having mentioned to any of us in advance, delivered a word-perfect speech; no notes, perfect diction and voice projection, she stunned the room. For many, this is what she will be remembered for; I am so grateful I heard her on that evening.
The High School meant so much to mum, and latterly, even though mobility was compromised, we went regularly to the Concert and Cake alumni events – mum loved them, and then of course to the Carol Service and Tableaux – a cause for endless reminiscences before and afterwards. Most touchingly, the friend she made in Upper II back in 1944, Jennifer Martin (nee Sambrook) visited and sat with her just before she died. And indeed, when she arrived at the Cedars, she found herself in the room next to Joan Rock – a contemporary at LHS all those years ago!
Sheila was such a popular, respected woman of traditional values, dignity, courage and a fierce independence, delighting in her family that by the time she died comprised of two children, five grandchildren and six great grandchildren, the most recent arrival being placed in her arms just two weeks before she died.
In her belief in service to others, she bequeathed her body to medical training.
– Shirley Magilton (LHS 1975)
