In the novel Absent in the Spring, Captain Charles Edward Sherston is the husband of Leslie Sherston. The couple has two sons, John and Peter.
Sherston worked as a bank manager in the bank in Crayminster. During this time he embezzled money but was caught. Rodney Scudamore acted as his defence during his trial. Sherston was convicted and then spent the next three years in prison. Thereafter the family moved to Skipton Haynes where they took up farming.
Joan Scudamore met the family again after Sherston's release. Joan noted how devoted Leslie was to Sherston. She was pregnant at the again and told Joan how she appreciated the fact that Sherston had tried to stop his drinking since he knew about the pregnancy. Joan was less sympathetic. Later, when Sherston was showing Joan a short cut through fields back to her own village, Sherston praised his wife for her loyalty and declared that he would make it up to her some day, Joan reflected that perhaps the best way was to stop going to his favourite pub The Anchor and Bell so often. But this was not to be. As soon as Joan and Sherston parted, she turned back and saw him outside the pub waiting for opening time.