Wendy was born and brought up in Stonehaven  and is the third generation of her family to live and work in Stonehaven. Her paternal grandfather founded the firm of A Shepherd & Sons and ran the business with his sons Ally and Jock Shepherd. Her uncle Jock was a familiar sight swinging a fireball at the new year and used to referee local football matches at what is still called Little Hampden in Brickfield.

Wendy attended Dunnottar Primary School and then the Mackie Academy and was further educated in Business Studies at a Private Business College. She started work at the local Net Factory as a clerkess where she learned to understand problems with the European Fisheries Act – after 3 years she was appointed secretary to the District Officer of the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board . Five years later she was offered the position as assistant to the General Secretary for Kincardineshire of the National Farmers Union of Scotland. She later became Personal Secretary to her husband who left the NFU of Scotland to establish his own business as an Insurance Intermediary; Wendy is currently manager of the business.

Wendy was first elected in 2003 to the Stonehaven South Ward and re-elected in 2007,2012,2017 and 2022 to the new ward of Stonehaven & Lower Deeside

Wendy is determined to keep her home-town of Stonehaven ‘on the map’, hence her initiative to obtain 120 Cherry Trees with the help of Andrew Bowie MP which were planted in 2021 at  Mineral Well Park as part of the Sakura Project. She is now looking to add to the Japanese Garden by hopefully adding a Japanese Tearoom for Community uses. 

Wendy’s interests include Equestrian Sports, gardening, fighting injustice and improving Stonehaven.