Derek was born in Bromley on Friday 8 June 1945, the second son of Leslie Frank Underwood and Evelyn Annie Wells. He spent his early days watching his father play for Farnborough Cricket Club, where his older brother Keith also played.

Derek attended Dulwich College Preparatory School from 1954 to 1958 and fondly remembered taking nine wickets for ten runs for the Dulwich Under 10s played at Coursehorn, Kent. After completing his primary education, he attended Beckenham and Penge Grammar School for Boys, now Langley Park School for Boys.

He played for Kent throughout his 24-year county cricket career and represented his country in international cricket for 16 years. Awarded an MBE for services to cricket in 1981, Derek went on to serve as president of Kent in 2006 and Marylebone Cricket Club in 2009, the same year he was inducted into the International Cricket Council’s Hall of Fame. Sadly, later years saw him withdraw from public life after being diagnosed with dementia.

We were fortunate to have Derek attend our charity dinner in 1997 in support of our first cricket tour to South Africa, where his England cricket blazer raised much money that night, and it is now in our archives. 

Derek passed away on Monday 15 April 2024, at age 78. He leaves behind his wife, Dawn, and two daughters. Please join us in sending our condolences, thoughts, and prayers to his family and friends at this difficult time.

Photograph: PA Images/Alamy