Striking a chord

Although Edward Sheppard appreciates the kind gesture of Alan Doyle providing him with a guitar, his family is still hoping the person who stole his will return it.

His daughter, Yolanda Sheppard, who lives in Moncton, N.B., said her father was en route from St. John’s, N.L., to her home on Monday after spending some time with her brother, Tim Sheppard.

While Edward was at Tim’s, Doyle dropped by with a guitar for him, having heard through social media the story of the stolen guitar, which was given to Edward by his late wife, eresa (nee Brumsey) Sheppard, who died in January 2014.

Yolanda said her dad, who will be 83 in January, has been playing guitar as long as she remembers, but it was always on borrowed instruments until he got his own.

“It took Mom a long while to save up the money to buy that guitar, so it certainly does have a sentimental value,” she said.

Sheppard said she went to social media to try to retrieve the guitar. e family just hopes the person who has it has a change of heart and returns it. She said a lot of family and friends have been trying to help get the guitar returned.

Sheppard said years ago hardly anyone would lock their homes when they went out and sometimes her dad still forgets to do that, which probably resulted in the guitar being taken.

She doesn’t believe it was neighbours nearby, as most know her father, since he moved there in 1968 when he and his wife bought the house.

“There were always fabulous people around us and I don’t think any of them took it,” Sheppard said.

She’s now looking forward to her dad spending the winter with her.

Sheppard said it was amazing that after rst going to social media Mark Critch, who she is a fan of, would tweet out the call to his musician friends to help her dad and how quickly Doyle stepped in.

Her dad told her meeting someone of his stature and jamming with him, not to mention receiving the guitar, was very special to him.

She said Doyle’s talent is beyond amazing, so this will be a special memory for her dad — especially when he picks up the guitar.

She wasn’t surprised Doyle stepped forward, as she said that’s what Newfoundlanders do - they take care of each other.

CONTRIBUTED Alan Doyle, right, poses with Edward Sheppard of Stephenville Crossing after presenting him with a guitar — seen between the two of them — because his was stolen from his home.