Although it is now some 3 years since Derek's death I have only just discovered this obituary site for him. I was saddened to hear of his death as I was just beginning to get the hang of facebook and had hoped to contact Derek after some 20 year gap.
Derek and I worked together at Grimston Park Mediaeval Banquets and when that closed we remained friends and occasionally had some madcap scheme going on. The one that sticks in my memory was the TV series on ancient Yorkshire pubs that we decided to do. we only did the pilot partly because of the beer that flowed and partly because Yorkshire TV heard of the programme and within a few months of our trying to interest TV companies brought out something similar. Still we had a good laugh and enjoyed ourselves. I moved back to Coventry and sadly lost contact with Derek.
He was always humorous always happy to listen to the side of a story and always generous. He would always find a place in the flat if I did call up to see and he was always pleased to see you. He was the first one to introduce me "The Ballad of Bull Pratt" and to Blind Jack Metcalf! Like Derek both larger than life characters and sadly missed by family and friends alike.
RIP mate
Pete Bagley