Norman Sheppard FRS (16 May 1921 — 10 April 2015) was a chemist and expert on the application of vibrational spectroscopy to molecular structure, in solids, on surfaces, in solution and in the gas phase.

[1] Norman Sheppard was born at 15 St Hilda Street Hull on 16 May 1921, son of Walter (who worked for Reckitt & Colman) and Anne Clarges (née Finding).

Sheppard was next appointed assistant director of research in spectroscopy in the university chemical laboratory, and a teaching fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1955.

He became aware of the growing importance of NMR and persuaded head of department Professor Todd to seek the funding for one of the expensive machines.

In the 1960s, when new universities were being established in the UK, former Cambridge colleague Alan Katritzky moved to UEA; he soon persuaded Sheppard to do the same, to teach in physical chemistry.