YORK Minster is paying tribute to a key figure in his retirement – by immortalising him as a grotesque on the cathedral’s East End.

Dr Richard Shephard, a former headmaster of the Minster School, is retiring from his role as Chamberlain of York Minster and as director of development of the York Minster Fund, which raises money to conserve and repair the building.

Rebecca Thompson, superintendent of works at the Minster, said that when she discovered one of the decayed grotesques overlooking the Minster school needed replacement, incorporating a permanent tribute to Dr Shephard seemed like too good an opportunity to miss.

Dr Shephard said: “Having oneself immortalised on the Minster as a grotesque may not be to everyone’s taste, but I am flattered and honoured that this piece of sculpture has been incorporated into the cathedral that has played such a large part of my life for many years.

A Minster spokeswoman said grotesques could only be replaced on a ‘like-for-like’ basis, but some of the more heavily decayed ones were completely unrecognisable, and relied upon the skill of the stonemason to create an appropriate replacement.

“The new grotesque is holding a doctorate hat, and holding its hand as if conducting music, whilst the face is a familiar caricature of Dr Shephard.”