Derek (Dad) was an incredible person, growing up from a poor working-class family, born in Pinxton, Derbyshire on September 23rd 1937, and putting himself through theological college in Bournville, after having 1/2 a lung removed because of pipe dust that caused major issues from his teenage job. This affected him considerably throughout his life and was particularly difficult for him in recent years. He graduated from Overdale Theological College in 1965 and was then appointed as a Minister of Falkirk Churches of Christ where he served until 1967. Whilst there he married Margaret Brown and together, they had three children.

On 21st October 1966, disaster struck in Aberfan when there was a catastrophic collapse of a colliery spoils tip, resulting in the death of 144 people of which 116 were children. This changed the direction of Derek’s life as he was appointed as Minister in Aberfan following this tragedy. He spent much of the following 7 years in Aberfan, helping the village to recover. His work there is remembered to this day.

Armed with his powerful skill in dealing with bereavement he became the Director of Cruse Bereavement Care charity from 1974 to 1990, moving to Addlestone Surrey on taking up that post and helping it become one of the largest such charities in the world and it is still going strong, supporting thousands of bereaved families
https://www.cruse.org.uk/about-cruse/60-years-of-cruse.

Derek was honoured by the Queen and awarded the MBE in 1990 at Buckingham Palace for his service to others, one of five occasions he met the Queen.  He was also chaplain of King Edward VII Hospital and Thames Valley hospice in Windsor. Chaplain at Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade Youth Camps and back to being called as Minister of Windsor URC in 1990. Sadly, whilst there, he lost his wife, Margaret in April 1993. Nevertheless, he continued as their Minister until 2003.

Whilst there he met Doreen (Fox) and married her on 1st July 2000.
After retirement he moved to Heathfield in Sussex where he became a member of Uckfield URC and subsequently Cornerstone, where he regularly led worship.

Derek dedicated his entire life to helping others, both as a Minister and as an individual. He was regarded as the UK’s leading expert on bereavement and was often interviewed on Television discussing disasters and the different ways people grieve and recover. He was also a very regular contributor on the Radio. He was asked by the Department of Health to set up a Disasters Working Party to learn lessons from tragedies and to consider appropriate social and psychological provision for the future.
Derek was dedicated to his work and fundraising for Cruse included a walk for Cruse crossing 27 Thames bridges for their 27th anniversary. The next year was walking to the 28 places on the Monopoly board (with a double decker bus of supporters following) and then undertook a walk over 30 locks on the River Thames for the 30th Anniversary of Cruse.
He was asked a few years ago if there was anything else he still wanted to achieve in life, that he had not yet fulfilled and his response was quite surprising. He stated that he had been fortunate to have achieved far more in life than he thought ever possible and that he was content with his life. This was surely a true mark of this modest man that we all loved and feel privileged to have known. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

He leaves his widow, Doreen, three children, (Alison, David and Andrew) and four grandchildren (Evelyn, Arthur, Sidney and Nell).

During the current restrictions the funeral will be a small private family one, but we will be having a larger memorial gathering in the future and will post details when we have them.

The selection of Cruse Bereavement Care as the recipient of any donations in Derek’s honour, and in lieu of flowers, was an easy one for the family. We hope to raise enough funds to have something in Derek’s name and plan some other fundraising activities over the next year.