Lieutenant Commander Derek Edward Rowland MBE Royal Navy

A delightful character, Derek worked for me at the Ordnance Board in the late 1980s.  Invariably cheerful he was full of good sense and wit.  He kept in touch after retiring to farthest Wales where he lived with his second wife, his first having died, in a cottage on a hill near Fishguard where he was very active in the local community.  Unlike many Christmas letters his were most entertaining and laced with hilarious anecdotes.  He seemed to have a knack for getting into absurd situations through no fault of his own and it was in character when his death was announced in the ARNO obituary notices a few years ago because of a mix-up by his bank, who also had his date of birth down as 16.. instead of 19.. and thus denied both that Derek knew when he was born, and access to his account, until after protracted negotiations the mystery was solved.  Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on 2 November he died aged 77 a fortnight later. 

Aside from those with whom he served he will be remembered by a wider naval community as a Rugby referee. 

He leaves a widow and children.

Obituary on Royal Navy Rugby Union website:

http://www.navyrugbyunion.co.uk/news/rnru-life-member-lt-cdr-derek-rowland-mbe-obituary