It was fascinating to read Mr Gordon’s account of Derek Underwood’s time at DPL (or DCPS as he - and indeed I - knew it), and equally heartwarming to hear of the charitable donations that he facilitated. As a boy at the Prep from 1975-1981 - when the great man was close to his prime - I wasn’t the only pupil for whom ‘Deadly’ was a complete hero. On the wall of Mrs De Glanville’s R3 classroom (modern Year 5), a huge hand-drawn poster was displayed with every boy’s favourite cricket county. Perhaps reflecting the more prominent status of county cricket at the time, the results were equally split between Kent and Surrey, but the three cricketers on all our lips were the Kent trio of Underwood, Knott and Woolmer. A fervent discussion on the long lunch table - one that I recall to this day - involved a heated argument as to whether Derek Underwood was a slow or slow-medium pace bowler (I vehemently argued the latter.)

The following year, our R2 Geography teacher, Mr Finn, took us to Portsmouth on a school trip to see HMS Victory. As we returned via Victoria station, Derek Underwood happened to be standing by the gate to platform 3. The entire party stopped while Mr Finn chatted to him; we waited and watched in awe. A few boys (more courageous than me) approached to get his autograph, and Deadly good-humouredly signed several DCPS school books.

I grieved his loss earlier this year as one would a great childhood hero; but I remain hugely glad and comforted of the DPL connection.

Richard Harris