We remember Derek with great affection at Hertsjazz venue The Bell Codicote when he used to bring his superb band Blind Alley. A lovely trombonist,leader and humourist. Our late organiser Brian Benton was a great admirer of DW as are all of us who remember him

We remember Derek with great affection at Hertsjazz venue The Bell Codicote when he used to bring his superb band Blind Alley. A lovely trombonist,leader and humourist. Our late organiser Brian Benton was a great admirer of DW as are all of us who remember him

Your Music lives onrnyou will be much missed.

Your Music lives on you will be much missed.

I offer my condolences to Derek's family. News of his sad passing takes me back to 1959 when he lead the band , with Mike Oddy on tenor, at the Morley Jazz club; Friday nights at the Ship Inn (I thnk). Imagine the excitement, delight, and fear of this, then 16 year old bass player being introduced to modern jazz by those wonderful musicians. Derek couldn't have been more encouraging. His response to my apology for having to stick cord sequences to the shoulder of my bass was "Well at least you know what a cord is, which is more that our last bass player!).What happy, formative years in such wonderful company. He was a delight and inspiration as a man and a musician.