OBITUARIES Derek Anthony John Bailey [1948-55] 19.08.1937 – 08.09.2015
Redhill, Reigate Priory Secondary School and Brambletye County Middle School in Redhill. He was a natural teacher and this ability was recognised throughout his career as one who was vividly aware of the needs of the whole child, including academic, social, moral and practical attributes. At the age of only thirty-eight, Derek was appointed Head of Salfords County Middle School in Redhill, where he combined his responsibilities as head teacher while still spending some time on classroom teaching. He was an exceptional head teacher, respected and admired by pupils and colleagues alike and he remained at Salfords until his retirement from teaching. Derek first met Hilary Fish in 1952 when he was only fifteen, playing table tennis at their local youth club. They eventually married in August 1961 and had five children together, Christopher, Paul, Martin, Deborah and Andrew. After retirement from teaching, Derek remained well-known locally as a Reigate paperboy. He got up in the early hours every morning, seven days a week, to go out on his bike and deliver nine paper rounds, continuing to do this until the day before he died. His paper-round customers were great supporters and contributors to his many charitable fundraising activities over the years and he raised many thousands of pounds for charity during his lifetime. He ran and completed the London Marathon five times, with a personal best of 3 hours 18 minutes. He cycled for many years in the British Heart
Foundation’s annual London to Brighton cycle ride, and also cycled from John O’Groats to Land’s End. He was moved by the plight of the people of Tibet, wanted to do something to help and founded the Reigate and Redhill Support Group for the Free Tibet campaign, maintaining a leading role in the local campaign until his death. Derek was nominated as the Surrey Community Unsung Hero in 2002, and won the Star of Surrey award, going on to represent Surrey in the national event hosted by the Prince of Wales at Highgrove. A committed Christian in his youth, he eventually found solace with the Quakers and was for many years an integral part of Reigate Quaker meeting. Derek was a selfless and kind man, dedicated to his family, always giving to others and his greatest gift was his love. He is survived by Hilary, after 54 years of marriage, by four of their children and by 14 grandchildren. His much loved second son, Paul, who was born with muscular atrophy, sadly died in 2004 at the age of 40. His eldest son, Christopher, contributed this obituary. Sydney Meredith Brown [1941-47] 10.11.1929 – 06.06.2016 Sydney Brown was the youngest of four brothers to attend Dulwich College, after older brothers James, Neville and Peter. The Brown family lived locally in Croxted Road, and Sydney followed the well-worn trail to the College from Oakfield
Derek Bailey was born in Wallington, Surrey, to father Leslie, a Fleet Street sports
journalist and mother Dorothy, and was a little brother for his elder sister Diane. After the Second World War started, Derek and Diane were evacuated out of Wallington to a farm in Wales, and although he missed his parents, Derek enjoyed being on a farm in open countryside and this love of the outdoors would never leave him. He came to Dulwich from Collingwood Boys School in Wallington and was in Drake. Whilst at the College, he joined the CCF and eventually became a Sergeant. After leaving Dulwich, he spent a year living and working on a farm in Wiltshire, before going on to Reading University to study Agriculture, attaining his BSc in 1959. While at Reading, he rowed for the university 1st VIII, competing in many events, including the Henley Royal Regatta and Head of the River races on the Thames. Certificate in Education in 1960. His first teaching post in 1960 was at Millichope Agricultural School in Shropshire, followed by Fyfield Secondary Boarding School near Ongar in Essex. Then he moved back to and remained in Surrey for the rest of his life. He taught at the Royal Philanthropic School in Derek decided to become a teacher and was awarded a Diploma and
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