Derek was born in Sedbergh (then Yorkshire), to parents back from Sierra Leone where they were both Methodist Missionaries. At six months he was left in care, as it was considered too dangerous for a baby to go to Africa. Upon reaching the age of three, it was deemed safe for him to join his parents.

The family travelled back home again for the birth of his sister, Dilys, but the outbreak of war prevented their return to Sierra Leone. As a Minister’s son Derek then led a wandering life, attending schools in Petts Wood, Kent; Caversham near Reading; Peterborough – where he had experience of heavy bombing; the Methodist boarding school of Culford near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk; Sheffield and Whitby.

He loved Whitby, was up early every morning and down to the docks to see the boats landing their catches. He even spent a night on one of these boats: unfortunately the sea was choppy and he lost his land legs. Back on land he found it difficult to stand upright, and at home his room would not remain still! However, the sailing experience may have triggered his decision to go to sea with the Merchant Navy at the age of sixteen.

After spending four years as an apprentice, he spent five years as a Deck Officer. It was an important and exciting part of his life, although he suffered the heart-rending experience – after having visited the western side of ‘The Pond’ – of his ship docking just across the Channel and not having time even for a fleeting visit home. He also had a trip around the world, calling at Cuba, the Panama Canal, San Pedro in California, Japan, North Borneo, Australia, Ceylon and the Suez Canal.

After nine years Derek had to give up the sea as he needed to wear spectacles and, at that time, they were not permitted.

Soon after returning to England, he managed to obtain a job as a clerk in HQ Northern Command, York, This he didn’t enjoy and when he saw an advert. asking, "Do you want to be a Municipal Accountant?" he answered, "Yes", and joined the City Treasurer’s Department in York .Whilst living at Haxby, he attended a social at the local Methodist Church and there met his future wife, Jacqueline. He was delighted to discover that she lived with her parents in the house next door. Imagine his surprise, the next morning, when he saw her at the bus stop.....in her school uniform! A short time later she went to university; he began studying for his accountancy exams. and, having passed, became an accountant in Croydon.

Jacqueline and Derek became engaged and were married at Haxby Methodist Church in 1967. Their first home was a flat belonging to the Methodist Church at Addiscombe, Croydon. Both wished to return to Yorkshire; however, a job offer in Preston took them to the opposite side of the Pennines: he found the position good and, following several promotions, they found themselves putting down roots here. Their two Lancashire children were born: Peter in 1970 and Heather in 1972 (terrible for proud Yorkshire parents!).

As soon as they were married Derek and Jacqueline bought a tent and began camping. They became members of the Camping & Caravanning Club and continued their love of camping throughout their married life – introducing the children to it as babies. In time they moved on to a caravan and latterly to a small motor home. The Folk Section of the C&CC enabled them to combine two interests: camping and folk dancing, which they had begun when the children were quite young. They joined Hoghton Folk Dance Club, making many friends at the weekly dance nights, and Derek also joined the Hoghton Rapper Sword Team.

(The first part is in Derek’s own words and Jacqueline wrote the concluding part.)