Mr Derek Oliver

His bequest paid the most part of a Disabled Car/Van for disabled people to travel in their chairs in the car.

Pictures of the Van being purchased in York on Monday and Drove down on Tuesday and took Chris out in it on Wednesday. Its now called the Derekmobile (Like the Pope mobile)

Derek Franklin Oliver was born on 17^th November 1932, and after his short service with the RAF, which he was medically discharged from after catching pneumonia, he returned to Academia and completed his teacher training.

Most of his teacher service was made at St Nicholas in Portslade, but he had already retired by the time I met him nearly 30 years ago.

We met at the bottom of the stairs in Queens Road, where I stopped and asked him a question about the lecture he had just given about the winding staircase. After grilling me about who I was and what school I went to he took my details and followed up in a very formal way with a letter.

After I responded to him I was invited to visit him at his home of 11 Crown Road, Shoreham, our friendship ensued and as he did not drive I was willing and able to escort him to various functions which gave me an insight into his life and gave him an insight into mine.

Just by way of example Derek supplied the masonic contact details of the house I still live in, after several failed attempts to buy property in Ferring, he was able to put me in contact with Martin Fiske, who’s parents’ house I purchased without it being placed on the market and without any estate agents. He helped me choose the location of my wedding and honeymoon and even came up with the name of my eldest son Aaron. In return I was able to escort him to Functions, both Masonic and Non-Masonic.

He encouraged me to advance in every area of my life, in business and with the City of London, becoming the Chairman of the Society of Young Freeman of the City 20 years ago. I joined his Livery company the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers, and their Lodge.

In freemasonry he was my go-to person for advice and direction and seldom have a met a mason who had such a knowledge and breath of Freemason in general and our various Masonic Orders in particular. Going through his certificates after his death there are many orders I had not even heard of, I have displayed them for you all to see his Masonic Journey.

He was initiated into Viators Lodge on 08/02/1975, then passed and raised and went on to be their WM, as I saw him go in the Basketmakers Livery Lodge and West Sussex Masters Lodge. He was a superb ritualist and gave his ritual so much meaning when he delivered it with his most unique voice and mannerisms. Rising to the rank of PPrJGW in Sussex, and LGR in London.

He joined Ferring Lodge to support us here after we had suffered 9 resignations, and on his 91^st Birthday he delivered a paper in the lodge, which I am sure all who were present would remember.

He died in Barford Court which had been his home since his health started to deteriorate in 2018 and on 30^th December 2024 after retiring to his room at 2pm and when he was next seen at 5.30 that afternoon, dying peacefully in his sleep.

The service to celebrate his life will be held on 10^th February at 2.30, in Tribes Chapel in Shoreham’s Buckingham Park, where we will host the service and the wake, I am sure he would want you all to feel most welcome. For those that can not make it there will be a Video Link.

Brethren please be upstanding in memory of all departed merit, coupled with the name of our very special departed Brother, W. Bro Derek Oliver.