There are literally thousands of newspaper articles relating to Derek’s literary work whether as an journalist or author.
They start in the early days in his role at the Daily Express, before the war years, when he was a reporter covering stories from the menial to the front page headlines. He eventually went on to write a column for the Daily Mail, which turned into more of an ‘Agony Aunt’ for which Derek felt quite unsuited but, as with anything Derek did, put his whole heart into it. He would feel both embarassed yet elated when a bus would pass him by with his column and face being advertised along the whole top side of a double decker.
However, that came to an abrupt end and Derek found himself without a job and wondering what to do next. He had long held the idea that he should like to travel the world but how to pay for this extravagant desire? He decided that he should write about his travels and sell them to a newspaper that would publish them. From this journey came the book, his first, ‘Time was Mine’. It was also to be his introduction to Jeannie and assist with the war effort.
He returned from his travels as war broke out and went into the Army. It was due to his experience that he found himself employed in the role of an Intelligence Officer and began working for MI5. His role necessitated the need to seek information and where better at that time than the Savoy Hotel. As well as many film stars and celebrities of day staying there so too did foreign Armed Forces Officers, UK and foreign politicians and reporters. An ideal establishment to listen for information that may prove useful in the war effort.
From the time Derek started writing ‘The Minack Chronicles’ to long after his death the newspapers and magazines continue to write about him.
Whether it’s to publicise his latest work, an obituary or indeed to mesmerise us with the notion that Derek and Jeannie were spies working for the Russians! There are a great many articles about them both.
We shall include what we can here. If you find any others that you would like to share please drop us line.