Derek Andrews (OW 1940)

The school was informed by Derek’s son Simon that his father sadly passed away on 30 December 2013. A Memorial Service for Derek will be held on 3 October 2014 in St Albans, Hertfordshire.

Simon provided MCS with the following obituary:

DEREK LESLIE ANDREWS (14 November 1928 to 30 December 2013)

Derek ANDREWS passed away peacefully on 30 December 2013 in Chichester. In many ways it was a happy release after a number of years of dealing with Parkinson’s Disease, increasing joint pain and uncertainty over awareness of his environment. However, he certainly led a full life.

Born in Slough, Berkshire, and followed by his sister Jane, his father was a banker when they were a respected breed. The children led a seemingly idyllic childhood moving as my grandfather’s appointments required in the Home Counties. Derek obtained a Choristership to attend Magdalen College School, Oxford, leaving in 1941 to attend Forest School, London. The only information I can recall him telling me was the excitement of Forest School being hit by a German Doodlebug rocket late in the War.

In 1946, he served his National Service in the Worcestershire Regiment, before being commissioned and serving in 17 Convoy Company of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. He was coincidentally based near Wherwell, Hampshire, where his parents finally retired to many years later.

Although it is likely he was a frustrated actor, it was business and particularly advertising and marketing that was his life’s call, where his dynamism, imagination and charm worked to such effect. He started in London with a number of leading advertising agencies before specialising in overseas marketing campaigns, perhaps the stimulus for a lifelong love of travel. However, he moved north in the 60s to Huddersfield, joining Kosset Carpets as Promotions Manager. For those old enough to remember, it was his ‘White Cat on the Carpet’ logo that contributed so strongly to the brand becoming the leader in the tufted carpet market.

He returned south in 1969 moving and settling for the long term in St Albans, a city he loved. He joined the Green Shield Trading Stamp Company and for ten years was in charge of the publicity and sales promotion functions as the Associate Director of Publicity and Marketing. He was also a member of the management team that launched the then new Argos showroom and catalogue empire. He was uncertain as to whether Argos was going to be a success and turned down an offer to be in on the start of Argos being a private entity, it went on to make millions for those few others who did set it up to which Derek’s reaction was phlegmatic!

He finally joined Remploy, the Government company for the employment of the disabled, as the Marketing Manager before setting up his own marketing and media company and travelling widely with the incentive travel industry finally retiring in 1999.

His extra-curricular contributions were enormous. He was a keen amateur actor and cabaret artist – a member of the Marlow Players in Buckinghamshire in his youth, a founder member of the Fleur de Lys Association for older Scouts, an active member of the British Sub-Aqua Club, a past Vice Chairman of the parent body and Life Member of the City of London Branch of the Royal Society of St George, a Freeman of the City of London and a Life Governor of the RNLI. He was very active within Freemasonry being a member of Halsey (No 1479) and Province of Hertfordshire Masters’ (No 4090) Lodges and a past Master of Maguncor Lodge (No 3806). He was the holder of London Grand Rank, a Mark Master Mason and Royal Ark Mariners, of East Hertfordshire (No 363) and a past Patron and Governor of the Royal Masonic Hospital.

In the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban, he was an original member of the new Chapter House and Restoration Fund Appeal Committee, a past member of the original Abbey Parochial Committee and a Sidesman and Steward in the Abbey Church for many years before Parkinson’s started to impact upon him.

His final years were spent in Chichester where he moved to be cared for by Barbara, his devoted companion of his later years. Derek leaves a son, Simon, from his first marriage to Nan who pre-deceased him, and grandchildren, Poppy and Hugo, and two sons, Benedict and Dominic, from his second marriage to Vanda.