New University Bridge ‘Shepard’s Crossing’ Opened With Game Of Poohsticks

Published on: 17 Sep, 2021
Updated on: 24 Sep, 2021

A new bridge in the University of Surrey’s grounds, named after E H Shepard, the illustrator, was opened up with a game of Poohsticks yesterday (Thursday, September 16).

Three generations of the Shepard family, the mayor of Guildford and the bridge team attend the opening of Shepard’s Crossing at the University of Surrey.

Three generations of E.H. Shepard’s descendants attended the opening by the mayor of Guildford, Cllr Marsha Moseley.

The bridge designer, Perry Petworth (university building surveyor) and members of the team who built it also attended the opening.

Playing Poohsticks at the new Shepard’s Crossing, (from left) Perry Petworth (university building surveyor and designer) and Helen Roberts (university archives and special collections manager) and E.H. Shepard’s great-great-granddaughter, Marina Campbell.

Ernest Howard Shepard, MC, OBE (1879-1976) was the illustrator of A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh stories, and Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows. He was also a political cartoonist for the satirical magazine, Punch.

He lived in Guildford and the surrounding area for over fifty years including Longdown Road, One Tree Hill. He was an officer in the Surrey Home Guard with Merrow Platoon. He later moved to Shamley Green.

E.H. Shepard on Pathe News seen walking to his house in Longdown Road, One Tree Hill in 1946.

At the age of 95, he donated a collection of papers and materials to the university for education and research. This includes original sketches for Winnie-the-Pooh, correspondence, manuscripts, photographs and his diaries and other memorabilia.

Captain E. H. Shepard in the Surrey Home Guard, Merrow platoon.

Helen Roberts, Archives & Special Collections Manager at the university, said: “We are delighted to be able to honour E.H. Shepard in this way today.

“We’re very proud to have been trusted with these collections and of the belief shown by The Shepard Trust that we are the right place and people to continue to develop the Shepard collections.”

The university’s collections are open, by appointment, to anyone interested in conducting research, whether for academic purposes or general interest. To find out more, you can explore the online catalogue or contact the team directly.