A long-serving former advertising manager with the Bournemouth Echo has died after contracting Coronavirus.

Derek William Parsons worked at the newspaper for 42 years from the early 1950s. He sadly passed away at Poole Hospital on January 16th January, aged 88.

Derek was born on July 15, 1932 in Poole, attending St. Joseph’s Catholic School and Poole Grammar School. After leaving school, he was stationed at RAF Lyneham for his national service, which he often talked about and was very proud of. When Derek had completed his national service, he travelled to Pennsylvania, USA to visit his older sister Jose, who had married an American veteran from the Normandy D-Day Landings and stayed for 3 months. He returned to England and started working at the Bournemouth Echo.

Derek worked at the Echo for 42 years in the Richmond Hill, Bournemouth Office. He worked in the Display and Advertising Department as a manager and worked closely with the then large department stores, Beales, Bobbys, Debenhams, etc. He often talked about the social side of the Echo, the Social Club, playing in the football team, and all the friends he made over the years.

He was also a very principled man, who was dedicated to fighting for workers' rights. When his colleagues' jobs were threatened by computerisation, he worked hard to protect their careers and livelihoods through direct action.

He also secured a job in the printing department for his late brother-in-law, Michael Payne, who also worked for the Echo for several years.

Derek was a keen cyclist and long-term member of Poole Wheelers Cycling Club and maintained an interest in cycling his entire life. He raced at various tracks in and around the Dorset area in time trials.He met his beloved wife, Kathleen, at a cycling event in Poole Park where he was racing. They were married at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on 29 September 1956, and honeymooned in Looe, Cornwall.

The couple enjoyed many holidays over the years with their family and best friends, Stan and Pam, both around Cornwall and North Wales, and throughout Europe.

Derek also liked to collect model railways trains and equipment with the view to one day making up a working railway track system. Sadly, he never got round to it; however maybe one day his sons will construct a railway set in his memory.

Derek also took an interest in Poole Speedway after working there for a good number of years. He enjoyed going down to the tracks and watching the races with the rest of the family.

Derek leaves his sons Alan, Mark and Andrew, his daughter Heather, eleven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He was a warm-hearted, gentle man with a very good sense of humour. He will be sadly missed by all members of his family.

Derek’s funeral for family members and close friends was held at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Parkstone on Thursday February 4.