Derrick Woods is the longest serving member of the band, and in 2001 he celebrated his fiftieth year with us.  What follows are his thoughts about his time in and out of the band.

Derrick was born on the 18th February 1934, in Little Dunham, although he lived in Foulsham.  When Derrick was five years old, his father who worked on the railways, was transferred to North Elmham.  He went to school there until he was eleven, then attended Fakenham Grammar from 1945 -1950.

In 1948 aged fourteen Derrick joined the newly formed North Elmham Methodist Chapel Band, under the leadership of William Scott (former principal cornet player of Fakenham Band) their were ten players in the band, and Derrick played bass then and always will.  In June 1951 Victor Bishop (bandmaster, Dereham Band) and Nelson Secker came to Derrick's band rehearsal, and at the end asked all ten players if they would like to join the Dereham British Legion Band, eight said yes.  Derrick played with Dereham for one year until he joined the Army for national service.

During his national service he was stationed in the Far East, as a fitter with a Gurker unit.  On returning to Norfolk in 1954 he went to work for Seamans and re-joined the band after being home for only two weeks.

While Derrick had been away the band and the British Legion had parted company and were now self-funded and known as Dereham Silver Band.  The band was still under the direction of Victor Bishop a man that received a massive amount of respect from the band, Derrick said "I would have done anything for Vic, we all had a great respect for him".

In 1956 Derrick met a young lady called Margaret on the bus going to the pictures, they were married in 1958. 

The band were busy during the next few years playing at local engagements and entering the East Anglian and area contests.  Derrick has seen many 'top' conductors take the band for rehearsals before a big contest, his favourite being Harry Hayes, Derrick says that he had a way about him that made the band want to play for him.  Dereham Band nearly always won the Hymn tune and were often second or third in the test piece.

The years rolled on and the band saw several changes of conductor, Ray Barnes took over from Victor Bishop, Charlie Friend from him, Stan Sutton replaced Charlie in 1983, then in 1985 Alisdair Goodall became conductor for the next ten years, Alisdair was followed by Keith Dickenson for three years, then Martin Pearce for a few months before moving on.  Dick Dickinson took over next having been a member of the Band for several years.  Tragically Dick collapsed and died whilst conducting the Band at rehearsal in March 2001. Dick will be sadly missed as a Bandsman, Conductor and friend.  A new Conductor has been appointed, Eddie Baker and we look forward to a new era under his baton.

1981 stands out in Derrick's memory because it was the year that the Dereham Rotary Club came to the band in a muddle because they had an exchange visit organised with the West German town of Rüthen, and they needed to find the band (The Bergstadt Musikanten) accommodation with families, so the band helped out, thus forging a link that has lasted  twenty years and is still going strong.  Derrick and Margaret were coupled with a family who don't even play in the band but the link with them is as strong as any other.

The band went to Rüthen for the first time in 1982, an interesting time for the band, some of the older members of the band were a little apprehensive, until Victor Barnett (a real band veteran and founder member) said he had no problem at all about going so everyone else said if he's going so am I.  And so it began, the link to Europe.  Something that the band treasure and will be kept for countless generations to come.

So we come to the present day with a new generation of players and more recently a new conductor.  How does Derrick feel about the current band ? "I love to see new members especially younger players joining they are our link to the future.  The band is here to stay".   So is Derrick with no plans to stop in the foreseeable future.

Derrick Woods a great man and good friend, thank you.

Stuart Clarke  17/10/2001