about Derek

Derbyshire Sailing Endeavour was set up by Mr Derek Lee and friends.

Derek passed away before Christmas 2010, quietly and peacefully after a long struggle with Leukaemia. This website is in memorium and we all hope that his spirit will live on and inspire others to achieve their dreams, live fulfilled lives and share the limitless bonhomie and kindness that was indeed the indefatigable Mr Derek Lee. Si Homfray.
 

About Derek by Mike Parkin (Vice President)

DEREK LEE

1931 - 2010

My association with Derek began in 1993 when he contacted me to ask ‘if he could become involved in the activities providing sailing for the disabled’ and requesting some guidance as how best to accomplish this. From the CV that he sent I was left in no doubt as to his ability to help progress the ideas for establishing a Sailability group at Carsington S.C.

A date was set for our first meeting, following which Derek suggested we needed a name for the proposed group, one that would reflect the locality of the group and thus make it easier to access local funding resources, thus Derbyshire Sailing Endeavour was born. It was becoming apparent to me that here was a man who knew how to organise and market a project and on my requesting if a ‘wheelchair friendly’ pontoon could be made available it was not long before Derek informed me that funding for the pontoon had been found and that it would arrive very soon. The floating pontoon, for use by all club members, has proved its worth to Carsington S.C. and disabled sailors over the years, all thanks to Derek.

In 1995 Derek was elected Commodore of Carsington S.C. and served in this position for the following two years. These were the embryonic years of the sailing club and Derek was influential in the development of Carsington S.C. but also continued with his commitment to the progress of sailing for the disabled. In his role as ‘chief fundraiser’ Derek has sourced over £150,000, enabling the purchase of dinghies and yachts that are suitably adapted for disabled sailors to participate in their sport. The ‘Duke of Devonshire Trophy Regatta’ is an annual event for disabled sailors, an event that Derek was instrumental in founding and organising.

During Derek’s tenure of office there was a loss of water during a prolonged drought, leading to very restricted sailing activities. Derek showed his organising ability and club finance was spent on laying down a concrete causeway, (an item which members will be currently familiar with and grateful for Derek’s initiative ). However, the club was not going to be allowed to suffer for the loss of its main facility, the water. A meeting was organised with Severn Trent Water to discuss a possible refund of the rent paid by the club and accompanying Derek on this mission, I was able to observe his diplomacy and negotiating skills and financially the club was greatly recompensed.

Our meetings at the club were always enlivened by Derek’s dry wit and he had an endless supply of jokes. He would often relate tales from his early days in Sheffield and was an accomplished racing cyclist in his youth, he found this to be a useful ability during his National Service in the RAF, forming a squadron racing team which earned ‘extra rations’ and time off for training.

Derek was a very competent sailor, holding the RYA/DoT Yacht masters Offshore certificate and had sailed extensively off the Clyde and west coast of Scotland, even venturing across the north sea to Holland.
 Sailing with Derek on his Telega 21 was always an experience. I recall the time when I was left to helm his boat, desperately holding into wind, whilst he clambered onto the foredeck to try out a new spinnaker, which seemed determined to wrap itself round the hull and if possible take Derek with it. The sail was lost and Derek retrieved from joining it by the quick actions of a crew member who was assailed at that moment for losing the spinnaker. All forgotten in the clubhouse later as we recalled the incident, Derek was always forgiving.

Recalling the activities in which Derek was involved, one can sometimes forget that he also had a disability which  restricted his ability to participate fully in all the activities he enjoyed, though his determination and stamina would belie such a loss of physical capability
Derek was a talented artist, a skilful joiner and had considerable in- depth knowledge on many diverse subjects and he used these gifts to enrich the lives of all who came into contact with him.
He was a true ‘Sheffielder’ and like the steel tools of that city he was tough, sharp, bright and always of the best quality. Carsington S.C. will be all the poorer for his passing.

I am sure that all of you who knew Derek will wish to join me in sending our sympathy to his wife Sylvia and daughter Emma, who have lost a remarkable husband and father.

Mike Parkin
(Vice President)
 

Derek Lee by Derek Lee March 2004

Diagnosed suffering from Peripheral Neuropathy, this caused a number of ‘lifestyle’ and work problems initially so the only work he could do was of a consultative nature. Since the initial diagnosis the condition has worsened and although the prognosis then was that he would need to use a wheelchair within four years this has proved, whether through determination or lifestyle management, to be erroneous. The experience gained through working in the voluntary sector has enabled Derek to offset his problems through better management of his condition. Through this connection he is fully cognisant with the ramifications of the Disability Discrimination Act and puts this knowledge to use in the furtherance of his leisure activities.

An innovative project at Carsington has been the funding of a Prototype Sailfish 565 Cruiser which, together with funding from Sportsmatch, The National Lottery and financial help from the manufacturer, Bridgeness Boats, has made available a small cruiser with offshore capability for use by mixed ability crews. This has been done by careful adaptation of the design and controls being lead back to the cockpit. It is envisaged to extend the possible offshore use of this boat by various disabilities through the fitting of an audio compass (for the visually impaired) and a mobile electric winch to help with launch and recovery.