Object number
M.2018.6.3
Title
Bishop's Mitre of DS (David) Sheppard, 1975
Date
1975 - 1975
Creator
Material
Size
Ht; 23 cm, not including ribbons
Description
Ecclesiastical hat or mitre. Red linen, triangular hat with two points. Two lappets or ribbons at rear. Motif: Appliqued and embroidered, angular sunburst design on front and rear, in gold, orange and red. Green lining.
Display caption
Fellows – Smith Scrapbook of South African Tour to England, 1960 A.2016.16
MCC Touring Cap of David Sheppard, c. 1962 TN.2008.593
Mitre of David Sheppard, Bishop of Liverpool, c. 1975 Donated by Thomas and Alexander Maxwell, 2005 TN.2008.595.3
David Sheppard describes in his book Steps Along Hope Street a meeting with Trevor Huddleston in 1956 after the latter had spoken in the House of Lords, issuing a challenge to the worlds of art and sport to boycott South Africa. Sheppard’s refusal to tour that winter though, was as a result of his commitments as a new curate, but by the time he was invited to captain the Duke of Norfolk’s XI against the South Africans in 1960 he declined on grounds of conscience. Furthermore he felt uncomfortable simply remaining silent on the matter and after the Sharpeville massacre (South African police fired on a crowd of protesters killing 69) in March approached MCC to indicate he would speak out about his refusal to play against the tourists. His decision was met with opprobrium by some fellow members of the MCC Committee, opposed to the introduction of religion or politics into the sporting sphere, but supported by the President as a matter of conscience. His decision was announced on the BBC news on the eve of the tourists’ arrival.
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