Tributes to long-serving T&A photographer Derek Chapman

Derek, who has died aged 93, joined the T&A as a young man and became a well respected press photographer.

He was born in Shipley in 1931, to Horace, a manager at Fred Ambler Mill, and Edith, who came from Barnsley, where Derek enjoyed summer holidays.

The family later moved to Wrose. Derek went to Cragg Road Infant School then secondary school during the war years. “It was his headteacher who encouraged his interest in the outdoors - it was the seed for his lifelong love of the Dales,” said Derek’s widow, Nadia.

After leaving school aged 14, Derek worked at Maudella Patterns, while studying printing at Bradford School of Art.

"When he was 16, his parents bought him a bicycle. It was his pride and joy and he used it to explore the Dales and Lakes," said Nadia. "He and two friends went fellwalking, caving and pot-holing. He used to say they spent their days underground and their evenings dancing. Derek was a keen dancer. He did lessons at Fred Town Ballroom in Shipley and later in life, we took up Cajun dancing.”

Derek as a young man. He was a keen dancer and loved the countryside (Image: Nadia Chapman)

Derek worked at Matthews Photographic Printing then, in 1948, he was called up for National Service. Serving in the RAF, he was posted to the Cotswolds, where he enjoyed exploring the countryside.

After National Service he decided he wanted to be a photographer. “To his surprise, his parents approved,” said Nadia. “He worked at Leach’s in Brighouse then saw an ad for a photo print job on the Shipley and Bingley Guardian. He got the job and was later offered a job as press photographer.”

Derek was a well respected press photographer (Image: Nadia Chapman)

Derek married his first wife, Doreen, in 1952 and had three children, Matthew, Sarah and Timothy.

A Norfolk Broads family holiday ignited his love of sailing. “He was hooked on sailing - he built his own boat in the attic of the Shipley office,” said Nadia. “He sailed in the Lakes and Scotland and was the bosun at Otley Sailing Club. He was a founder member of Sail Free, a sailing club for the disabled, and was presented with an award by Princess Anne.

Derek with Princess Anne, who presented him with an award for his work with Sail Free

"The club was also presented with a Queen's Award and went to a garden party at Buckingham Palace."

When Derek joined the T&A he covered many high profile stories. Said Nadia: “He went to Northern Ireland during the Troubles and covered the Moors Murders, Royal visits and the burning of Salman Rushdie’s Satanic Verses in Bradford. He was interviewed on TV about it.

Derek covered major news stories, including burnings of the Satanic Verses in Bradford (Image: Newsquest)

"He photographed big names including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Cliff Richard at the Gaumont, Peter Ustinov and Rudolf Nureyev.”

Derek's photo of ballet legend Rudolf Nureyev

Derek had a daughter, Kimberley, with second wife Linda, who tragically died, aged 38.

He and Nadia met in 1989. “We travelled a lot to countries including Canada, America and South Africa,” said Nadia. “Derek loved walking holidays. He went to China and the Philippines and took a fantastic set of photos.”

T&A feature writer Helen Mead said: "When I joined the T&A in 1991 Derek was a much-respected, long-standing member of the photographic team.

"It was always a pleasure to go out on a job with him. He was a calm and friendly man and had excellent local knowledge which, as a new starter, I often drew upon.

I always enjoyed having a chat with him before he set about taking pictures."

Derek, of Bingley, had nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren. His funeral will be at Oakworth Crematorium on Friday, April 26 at 10.45am.