Sir Derek Hornby
Sir Derek Hornby has died, aged 83, He enjoyed a successful business career overshadowed at its close by the near-collapse of London & Continental, the company he chaired to operate Eurostar and build the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. He had previously been chairman of Rank-Xerox and the British Overseas Trade Board.
It was during his period as chairman of Rank-Xerox that Derek became a major sponsor of the T&RA, alongside Wimpey and Celestrion. He continued his generous sponsorship of both games for four years (1986 - 1990).
Derek Peter Hornby was born in Bournemouth on 10 January 1930, the eldest of five children. After his father was killed in the war, he was brought up by his grandmother down the road from the rest of the family as money was short. Educated at Canford, he subsequently completed his National Service in Aden.
Derek Hornby married Margaret Withers in 1953, with whom he had a son and a daughter. The marriage was dissolved, and in 1971 he married Sonia Beesley, who survives him with a younger son and daughter.
The funeral was held at Shipston on Stour on 28 December 2013.