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South Wales Argus

Former Rogerstone cricketer receives British Empire Medal

Derek joined the club in 1952 and for the last 70 years has been a driving force for the club's success. He has moved through the ranks as player, to fixture secretary then to Chairman - a position he's held since 2001 when a dear friend of his fell ill and could no longer continue. He has dedicated his retirement to serving cricket and preserving the history of his local community. He has supplied the Museum of Welsh Cricket in Sophia Gardens with an extensive collection of the club's history and regularly finds himself involved with Sporting Memories, a charity organization that helps older people to reminisce and reconnect through the power of sport. While the sport itself may not have changed in the last 70 years, the community surrounding it has but Derek still finds himself devoted to growing the squad he came to know and love all those years ago. Despite being well into his eighties, Derek is still involved in the coaching of the Club's junior division, all whilst ensuring that the history and achievements of the Club have been preserved and recorded. Derek says his nomination was put forward by the local council, rather than the cricket authority. His active involvement with all things Rogerstone is the likely cause for this, with his commitment to the community and the preservation of the town's heritage and history being among one of the reasons he is so well known by locals. Derek said: 'I'm just emotional and very pleased.' 'I've been involved with Rogerstone Welfare since 1952, and I really enjoy it to this day. It keeps me active – I can just about handle coaching the Dynamos children at my age of 86 – and it keeps me mentally active as well. I'm going to keep going for as long as I'm able to! 'I would not have been able to do this without the help of my very tolerant wife Wendy' This accolade is the latest in a long list of achievements that include a Rogerstone Community Award, an OSCA award for Proactive Leadership and a Safeguarding Award from Cricket Wales.