So sad to hear this on playing back Genevieve Tudor's programme. He was such a great guy. I rang him up once to book him at our local venue, and when business was done with I added:

"Hope you don't mind, Derek, I've learnt one of your songs!"

"No, don't mind at all! Which song is that?"

"Harry!" I replied.

"That's not mine!", he said, "It's Ralph McTell's, but he gave it me!".

"Oh!", I said, "Sorry, I hope I haven't caused offence!"

"Nah! Nah! Not at all ... besides, I WOULD have written it if Ralph hadn't!"

Probably the funniest man I have ever seen or will ever see - the dog in the railings, the most dangerous day in your life, "I've got a spotlight there and another over there, 'n' I feel like a rabbit on the M1!", Give us a light, Uncle Ed.

RIP Derek - bless you for all the laughter you've given me, and thousands like me.