Derek from Barford was a talented and skilled craftsman
MULTI-SKILLED Derek Powers from Barford was so talented he could literally turn his hand to anything.
Derek passed away last December, aged 81, but his contribution to the community will be treasured for generations to come with the creation of a memorial trophy in his honour.
Not only was Derek a professional pattern maker, he was also a member of Heart of England Woodturning Club in Stratford, he made classic car models from wood and won awards for his prize-winning vegetables grown on his allotment in Barford.
His daughter, Judith Irvine, asked the club if there could be a permanent tribute to Derek and so trophy maker, Mike Luck, was given the task which he successfully completed and made the Derek Powers Memorial Trophy which will be awarded for the first time at the Warwick Horticultural and Craft Show in late August.
“Dad has always been marvellous in his allotment and liked to support the Warwickshire Horticultural and Allotment Society. He supplied the whole family with vegetables he had grown and was a regular winner with his produce. He won prizes for the various wooden models of classic cars in competitions and he made trains for young family members. He could turn his hand to anything,” Judith said.
She described Derek as kind and gentle and looked after wildlife, birdlife and the environment.
Judith inherited her father’s allotment and said the quality of the soil he looked after is a testament to the care he put in.
“He loved wood and woodturning and made an enormous chest which is in Barford Church now. He liked to contribute to his community and he was a very skilled person with a high degree of accuracy. The trophy is because I just wanted to put back something that had given him a lot of pleasure,” Judith said.
The Derek Powers Memorial Trophy will be awarded to best exhibits in runner beans and French beans at the Warwick Horticultural and Craft Show which is run annually by the Warwick Horticultural and Allotment Society and takes place on 27th and 28th August.
