From the Dover Mercury, 21 May, 2008.

Much-loved biker vicar dies at 89.

by Graham Tutthill

MOTORCYCLISTS are expected to turn out in force next month for a memorial service for Fr .Bill Shergold, who died on Sunday aged 89.

Fr Bill, affectionately known as Farv, was a keen motoryclist himself, and set up both the 59 Motorcycle Club in London and the 69 Motorcycle Club in Dover.

He last visited Dover in 2006 for a Pentecost service at Charlton Church, where he was Rector more than 30 years ago.

It had been hoped he might have been able to attend the 69 Motorcycle Club's 40th anniversary service and party on June 20.

Born in October 1919, Bill Shergold went to St Chad's College in Durham and gained a Bachelor of Arts degree.

He trained for the ministry at the College of the Resurrection at Mirfield, was made a deacon in 1942 and a priest in 1943. He was Curate at All Saints', Poplar, in the east end of London from 1942 to 1949, then served as Vicar of Hanworth until 1958 when he was appointed to Hackney Wick, and then in 1964 to Paddington until 1969.

Described as a pleasant, cultured and quiet man, he became the unlikely champion of motorcyclists and established the 59 Motorcycle Club in 1959.

When he moved to Dover in 1969, local motorcyclists were quick to make contact and he agreed to form the 69 Club.

He was vicar of the former St Hart's Church in Templar Street until it closed and then became Priest in Charge of Charlton, and Rector of the parish, until 1978. He moved to Tunstall, near Sittingbourne, retiring in 1984. Returning to London, he was honorary curate at Poplar for the next eight years, retiring, again, to the Chichester Diocese and finally moving to Wells in Somerset in 2000, continuing to officiate at services.

The link between the motorcycle club and Charlton Church has continued with the current priest, the Rev Colin Johnson, who is also a keen motorcyclist. During the winter months club members have refurbished and redecorated the church hall.

Mr Johnson said: "The service on June 20 will now take the form of a memorial and thanksgiving service for Fr Bill's life, work and ministry.

"One of his last wishes was that we should have bikes in church ... lots of them! We shall be obeying his request."

From the Dover Mercury, 25 June, 2009.

Revved up to remember Farv

by Graham Tutthill

FATHER Bill Shergold would have loved it!

A long line of motorcycles outside the church, several strategically placed inside the building, and the current parish priest, Father Colin Johnson, riding his bike straight down the central aisle ...

The service, held at Charlton Church on Saturday, was originally intended to mark the 40th anniversary of the 69 Motorcycle Club in Dover.

But when the club's founder, Father Bill - affectionately known as Farv - died last month, aged 89, members decided to turn it into a service of thanksgiving and remembrance to mark his life and ministry.

And they did him proud. Some bikers travelled from London, where Father Bill originally set up the 59 Motorcycle Club, to take part in the service. And a former member of the 69 Club, Dover Mayor Cllr Sue Jones, was there too, complete with her chain of office over the leather jacket she used to wear in her motorcycling days, emblazoned with the 69 Club badge!

Bikes of all descriptions were parked outside the church as their owners took their seats in the church for the service, recalling the life of an extraordinary man.

Former club chairman Dick Pascoe, who was unable to attend, sent a message saying how he and fellow biker Mick Ray went to see Father Bill in 1969 when he arrived in Dover to ask about setting up the club.

"Farv had a calm, peaceful outlook on life but with an extra quality that enabled him to reach out to young people," he said.

"A quiet and unassuming man, he had a calming influence on those who might have been trouble makers and he was well respected by all the members, no matter what background they came from."

Father Colin said Father Bill never forgot that he was a priest. "He welcomed motorbikes into his church, which was previously unheard of," he said.

"When he heard this service was being planned to mark the 40th anniversary of the club he said we had to get as many bikes in as possible."

As well as riding his bike through the church, Father Colin blessed the bikes and the bikers.

Mayoress Ronnie Philpott read one of the lessons. A party to celebrate the club's anniversary was held on Saturday evening at "Crabble Corn Mill".

Father Colin Johnson rides his bike into church at the start of the service.