(1912–1978)

Arnold Derrick Workman, known as Dick, was born on 25 March 1912 in Bowes Park, Middlesex - just before the Titanic sank. From an early age, he displayed quiet determination and a deep affinity for music, qualities that would shape his personal and professional life.

Derek was the son of Arnold and Mary Workman (nee Read) and grew up in the expanding North London suburbs of Southgate and Wood Green. His formative years were framed by the aftermath of the First World War and the uncertainties of the interwar period. These experiences, coupled with his inherently kind and patient disposition, would later define his conduct in wartime service and family life.

Second World War Service

Derek enlisted in the Royal Air Force in October 1940, during one of the most critical periods of the Second World War. Trained as a wireless operator, he was stationed at RAF Tangmere in Sussex, a site of strategic importance during the Battle of Britain and the broader conflict. His technical expertise in communication was vital to operational success during a time of extreme national crisis.

Later in the war, he was deployed to France or Belgium with the British Expeditionary Forces, where he not only fulfilled his communications duties but also used his musical talents to boost troop morale. It is known that he played piano for servicemen during this period, offering a momentary reprieve from the hardships of war. Though he seldom spoke of his wartime experiences, he remained in contact with former comrades and attended reunions with No. 486 Squadron - a New Zealand fighter-bomber squadron - well into later life, a testament to the bonds forged during those years.

Musical Excellence

A gifted and accomplished musician, Derek was perhaps most widely known for his work as an organist. His repertoire was both broad and refined, encompassing early English composers such as John Stanley and William Walond, through to the works of Bach, Mendelssohn, Karg-Elert, Widor, Elgar, and MacDowell. He frequently arranged orchestral compositions for organ, guided solely by his own musical intuition and skill. He performed for BBC World Service broadcasts, and on one notable occasion, for the King of Norway.

Derek worked most of his life as a property manager for RHM in London, allowing him, as an organist and choirmaster, to serve in several prominent London churches, including St Olaf’s and St Helen’s Bishopsgate. He often would give lunchtime recitals in churches across the city, including St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square. Jennie’s mum, writing after his death, noted:

“His repertoire was vast. Early organ composers such as John Stanley, William Walond and their contemporaries featured widely. Bach of course, all the way through to Karg-Elert, Widor, Mendelssohn, Elgar, MacDowell… and if he liked an orchestral piece particularly, he would do his own arrangement for the organ.”

Following the war, Derek considered pursuing a career in education. His friend Quentin Wilson later reflected:

“I have a dim memory of your dad once saying to me that, just after the war was over, he rather wanted to go into teaching. I think he would have been brilliant at it – but I guess that even the shortened emergency training might have been impracticable for him at the time.”

Although this path ultimately proved unfeasible, the remark underscores Derek’s intellectual curiosity, leadership capacity, and his quiet yet profound ability to inspire others.

Family Life and Legacy

Derek married Constance E. Williams in 1941. Their son, Richard, was born in 1945. In later life, he met Elizabeth Lis, with whom, although much younger, he had five children: Anna, Jennifer, Peter, Rebecca, and Thomas. His devotion to family was evident in every aspect of his life. Though quiet by nature, he expressed his love through steadfast presence, gentle humour, and unwavering support.

Derek was also an accomplished amateur photographer. His home was filled with photographic equipment - hanging rolls of negatives, boxes of glass plates, and early prints. These were more than mere images; they represented an enduring curiosity about the world and a desire to document life. For his daughter Jennie, these elements form an important part of her earliest memories, and helped foster her own interest in photography.

Derek died suddenly in April 1978 while preparing to play the organ at St Mary’s Church in Padbury. At the time, he was separated from Elizabeth (Liz). This was a very traumatic time for Dick and his older children Anna, Jennie and Peter who had stayed in the family home with him. His death, at the age of 66, was unexpected and deeply felt by all who knew him. His daughter Jennie, aged ten at the time, and Anna were present. Despite the brevity of their time together, his influence remains a central part of Jennie’s life. His kindness, musicality, love for photography, and deep moral integrity left an indelible impression. His absence also fueled Jennie’s desire to search for her family,

Derek Workman Photographic Archives