Former RTE journalist, 88, has body donated to medical research following death as memorial held to celebrate life

A FORMER RTE journalist’s body has been donated to medical research following his death.

A memorial gathering was held this afternoon for ex-RTE Foreign Editor and London Correspondent Andrew Sheppard.

Sheppard, 88, who was known as Andy, died on Thursday following a long illness.

He was born into a Jewish family in Berlin, Germany in 1938, and fortunately, he managed to survive World War II.

He subsequently moved to the UK and attended Manchester University where he graduated with a degree in anthropology and sociology.

Sheppard spent some time film-reviewing and worked as a political correspondent at the Manchester Evening News.

Following a five-year stint with the paper, he took up the role of London Correspondent for RTE in 1972.

He relocated to Ireland five years later.

His family say that he is “remembered most” for his time as RTE’s Foreign Editor, a post he held until his retirement in 2001.

His former colleagues have described Sheppard as a knowledgeable and inspirational figure who was extremely kind in his dealings with others.

Sheppard was also a former President of the Association of European Journalists and a longstanding member of the National Union of Journalists.

Sheppard was an avid reader and jazz fan, as well as a lifelong supporter of Arsenal.

He is survived by his wife Orla, his son Danny, his niece Karen and nephews Ian and Alastair.

A death notice said the journalist donated his body to medical research.

A memorial gathering to celebrate Sheppard’s life was held at the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey in Wexford from 1pm to 5pm today.

And a steady stream of tributes have remembered Sheppard as a “intensely serious journalist” since his shock death.

One mourner said: “I am so desperately sad to hear of Andy’s death.

“He was an intensely serious journalist, peerless in his analysis of European affairs.

“Yet he had a childlike delight in mischief of all sorts. My condolences to Orla, Danny and the rest of the family.”