UK’s most married man who had EIGHT wives rushed to hospital with crippling illness – but he still wants to find love
THE UK’s most married man still wants to find live – despite suffering from crippling illnesses, including Parkinson’s.
Ron Sheppard, 75, from Somerset, has been married a staggering eight times.
In March last year, he declared he was “done with marriage” but he now says he would have another go at tying the knot a ninth time.
The serial monogamist was set to marry 30-year-old Rose Hans in 2019, but the engagement fell through.
Ron wants to marry despite the bachelor suffering from a long list of health ailments.
They include: Parkinson’s, Arachnoiditis, Pleurisy, COPD, diabetes, and long Covid.
But despite his illnesses, Ron hasn’t given up on love yet saying he has always been optimistic.
He said: “I’m not looking for love right now. I mean if I did get put in a care home and met a lovely lady – why not.”
“But I’m not seeking it out. I still care about marriage – its very important.”
Married eight times, Ron said he is “told” he has eight children, and “about” 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
“That’s my legacy – my families.”
One of his ex-wives is dead, his last wife Weng is remarried in America, and he said he doesn’t speak to any of them.
He said: “After all of the romances now I’m all alone.
“But I don’t regret anything. I don’t regret any of my marriages.
“My first wife, she’s old now like me. She’s not very well either.”
Most of his social interaction is now with NHS staff as he tries to heal from one of his many ailments.
He has two carers a day, in the morning and at teatime, but he said he keeps falling over at home.
He said: “Most recently I’ve been in hospital with double pneumonia. I only came out last Thursday.
“I am 76 this year and on a DNR (Do Not Resusitate) due to my conditions.
“In the last year I have been in Yeovil District Hospital more than six times at a month each time.
“I’m on morphine for the pain – it eases it for a little while but I can hardly move.
“I’m all on my own here. I just have my nextdoor neighbour to speak to.
“I have a kind lady that does my shopping for me but that’s it.”
Ron said he has been asking to be put into a residential care home on the Isle of Wight, where his family live and where his parents are buried.
But, he said they won’t transfer him.
He said: “I can’t afford to put myself into a care home – not after all my marriages. I need social services help but they won’t listen to me.
“Social services say I’m not in a position to go into a care home which is crazy. They say im not suitable.
“All I want is to go home to the Isle of Wight.”
Ron’s longest marriage lasted 13 years, and his shortest was just 10 months.
He first got married in 1966 to Margaret and the couple had three kids but they later divorced after two years.
Wife number two was Jeanette and they wed in 1973 although the marriage lasted just one year.
Ron married for the third time in 1976 to Lesley and they had two boys together before he left her five years later.
Kathy became wife number four in 1982, and the couple, who had a daughter, worked as Bluecoats at Pontins with Shane Richie.
Ron then married Sue in 1986 and had two boys, but after 11 years she threw him out.
Usha from Singapore was next to tie the knot with him in 1999, followed by Wan in 2003 and Weng a year later.
Ron almost got married for the ninth time.
He was engaged to an American woman called Rose Hans, who he had never met, but he called it off in 2019 saying “it didn’t feel right.”
Somerset council said it could not comment on individual cases.
A spokesperson said: “We always aim to support people to live as independently as possible.
“We support people to move into residential care settings if this is deemed the most appropriate way to meet their needs, following an assessment.”
His hits and missus
Wife No1: Margaret in 1966. Had three kids and divorced after two years.
Wife No2: Jeanette, 1973. Lasted one year.
Wife No3: Lesley, 1976. Had two boys. Ron left in 1981.
Wife No4: Kathy, 1982. Had one daughter.
Wife No5: Sue, 1986. They had two sons, but she threw him out in 1997.
Wife No6: Usha, 1999. Ended after four years.
Wife No7: Wan, 2003. She left to go home to Bangkok after eight months.
Wife No8: Weng, 2004. Ended in 2016
Wife No9 (almost): Rose, 2019. Engagement fell through and they never met.