The obituary notice of Derek HATHAWAY

When I (Rick) first met Derek in 1972, I was impressed with his self confidence and the fact that he seemed to know the answers to all problems – as I got to know him later, I realised that he didn’t necessarily know, but was willing to go and find out.
I got to know him well at the JT at lunchtimes in the ‘70s and then later we worked together for a number of years.
Jane got to know him in the post Royce’s days in the Escape Committee.
Clever, funny, always with another project to plan, something to sort, another idea, something to say – and a good friend whose humour, knowledge and wisdom is greatly missed
Rick & Jane Nuth

Derek, simply the best manager I had in all my years at Rolls-Royce, EDS & HP. Thanks for the memories. We'll all miss you, especially on the the first Tuesday of each month.

I (Steve) worked for Derek for a few years at Rolls-Royce and EDS. Derek was that rare kind of leader – he was knowledgeable, supportive, and he led from the front but consulted with his staff. And always with the sense of dry, sometimes acerbic, humour for which he was well known.
He was a member of the same badminton club as us for many years, where his reach was his most useful attribute – enjoying the game was more important than winning (but only just).
Since Derek retired from EDS many of his former work colleagues and their partners have met regularly for many years, sharing experiences and stories, problems and successes, and we will all miss Derek very much.

Liz and Steve Lonsdale

Who can forget the night Derek and Anne folk danced in the village square whilst they were visiting us in Bretignolles-sur-mer or our failure to make it to a 'Medieval Banquet' in Apremont as they proved once again to be the Spondon Rainbringers!

Thanks for the very many memories and spread the gospel of Terry Pratchett in the great library in the sky. As he wrote: "Don't think of it as dying, said Death - think of it more as leaving early before the rush!"