Derek worked closely with me on a nursery rhyme DVD for an sign language organization called Lamh, in the early 2000s. Nursery rhymes were used to teach signing to kids and their parents, where some cognitive condition impacted speech. Derek's role was to compose, produce and play the music and deliver final files to us to complete an animation-driven DVD. The DVD is still used to this day, and has been reproduced at least 8 times i.e. approx 15,000 units. My overriding memory is dealing with a super calm, patient, capable and creative collaborator, including a hectic Easter weekend recording in stuffy studio. Thousands of kids and their parents are still interacting with this project today. We worked on a another smaller digital media gig around the same time. Derek always struck me as a master of his crafts, a highly intelligent and empathetic human being and a pleasure to hang out with, where conversations on work, music and current affairs easily meshed. I'd love to have worked with him again or spent more time just shooting the breeze. His was a special spirit.
