It was standing room only when the funeral of Sid Sherring took place at St Peter’s Church at Exton last week, writes Richard Walsh.

Family and friends along with members of the farming and business community from across the Brendons and Exmoor, as well as the wider community, gathered to say their farewells to Sid who passed away in his sleep on April 12, at the age of 102.

During the course of his long life Sid who spent most of his life in West Somerset and specifically in Bridgetown, reached out and touched numerous people, and many of them were there to pay their respects to one of the moors great characters. 

Sid was born at Churchstanton near Wellington in June 1921 and whilst working for WJ King on the steam engines one of his first jobs was at Taunton Racecourse in the mid 1930s where he kept the boilers stoked to provide boiling water in the refreshment marquee where this sister was responsible for all of the catering

On the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 Sid signed up to join the RAF where after an initial spell in the Military Police he volunteered to join the heavy transport corp. He was involved with D Day and landed at Juno Beach on the second day of the Normandy Landings and once ashore laid and repaired aircraft landing strips, a skill he put to good use later in his life.

On being demobbed Sid bought a tractor plough and a cultivator and was involved with ploughing up the land to provide food for post war Britain, which was the start of his agricultural contracting business. It grew from there and as he got more work Sid bought a second tractor and in the 1960s was joined by his sons.

The family moved to the Old Mill at Bridgetown where along with Molly, his wife for 40 years, they started the caravan site and where they remained living until they retired to live near Williton.

Sid’s business grew and over the years he was involved with some big projects. One of which was the demolition at Donniford Camp from where many of the buildings were dismantled and still exist at locations all across the area. Among other work that he was involved with was putting down the gallops at Philip Hobbs and Jeremy Scotts stables.

One of Sid’s abiding passions was horse racing and he regularly attended Taunton Races where he was their oldest member, having first joined 70 years ago. Even though he didn’t get along to any of their meetings last season he studied the form and sent his son Doug along with his list of fancies to place his bets.

Sid was one of the moors great characters and will be much missed by all who met him.

Following the funeral family and friends repaired to the Rest and Be Thankful at Wheddon Cross where Sid played skittles and had been a regular for many years.