Father-of-eight Ron Sheppard has been married a staggering eight times, but has now hung up his dating boots and moved to a care home, saying his love life has ‘worn him out
The UK’s ‘most married man’ is turning his back on romance and moving to a care home, stating that his eight wives have ‘worn his body out’.
Ron Sheppard, 74, kept dating until last year after admitting he didn’t like being alone.
But after eight children and eight marriages, Ron says his relationship days are finally done.
He most recently called off an engagement to an American woman called Rose – who he had never met – in 2019 after it “didn’t feel right”.
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Ron told Somerset Live: “My health is not good now. I think it’s possible all my wives have worn my body out over the years.
“The mental and physical stress of the divorces have taken their toll.”
Ron first tied the knot in 1966 with Margaret.
The pair shared three children but later divorced after two years, after which came wife number two, Jeanette.
Ron first got married to Margaret in 1966 (Image: Daily Mirror)
Wed in 1973, the union lasted just one year before Ron got married for the third time a couple of years later in 1976.
He and Lesley had two boys but Ron – a former tour manager of comedian Norman Wisdom – left her five years later before she died in 1996. Then came Kathy in 1982.
The couple, who had a daughter, worked at Pontins as bluecoats with Shane Richie. Ron then wed Sue in 1986 and had two boys. But she threw him out 11 years later.
Usha from Singapore was next to tie the knot with Ron in 1999, followed by Wan in 2003 and Weng a year later. Ron’s longest marriage was 13 years and the shortest just 10 months.
His third wife was called Lesley, but their relationship didn’t last (Image: Internet Unknown)
Lothario Ron has remained single since his marriage to Weng collapsed but admits to having ‘friendships’ with a number of ladies. But he doesn’t regret walking up the aisle so many times.
“I don’t regret any of my marriages,” he said, “because I have my eight children.”
Heartbreakingly, Ron said his constant search for love stemmed from the sexual abuse he suffered as a child.
He says the trauma left him ‘constantly craving companionship’.
He continued: “It left me with a lot of problems.
“I turned to women. I felt safe in the company of women.”
Cristel Marquez was due to be Ron’s ninth bride, but she called off the engagement ( Image: SWNS.com)
Ron released his autobiography, Lord of The Weddings, in 2014, and is still working on his second book The Wife Collector, which he says is due to be released alongside a film being made in the US.
His days now are very different from those when he was a serial husband, and he’s leaving his two-bedroom ground-floor flat in Somerset for a new life in a care home on the Isle of Wight, to be close to his family.
But far from looking for a new lady to share his golden years with, Romeo Ron says he is no longer well enough for romance due to his failing health.
Sadly, Ron suffers from a range of medical conditions including Parkinson’s Disease, Lewy Body Dementia, COPD and Arachnoiditis which have left him reliant on a wheelchair and a team of carers who visit him three times a day.
“I spend my days in a lot of pain,” he added. “I can’t do anything really as I shake so much.
“I have carers come in to help me three times a day. They cook me meals and check on me and do shopping.
“I don’t really go out at all apart from when I occasionally go shopping with my carers.”
Ron is not in touch with any of his wives but is looking forward to moving to the Isle of Wight to be close to his sons and their families.
“I have a care home place organised but I am just waiting on social services,” said Ron. “And I am looking forward to getting over there and starting a new chapter of my life.”
mirror.co.uk
