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Re: Derek Emsley

I'm so sorry to hear this news. Over the years Derek and Marian have been good friends to me.

I was walking the West Highland Way in 1993. It was Derek's year off the Challenge, having completed his tenth the year before. He drove around Challenge hotspots in his campervan, offering tea and sympathy to Challengers. He plucked me out of the pouring rain to have a cup of tea.

"Where did you start?" he asked - which I thought was a strange question. Milngavie, I replied (pronounced Milne Gavvy in my best Estuary English).

After a brief pause he handed me an October copy of The Great Outdoors which I read whilst drinking tea and scoffing biscuits. Until that point I had never heard of the magazine or the Challenge. I went on to complete twenty of them - incorporating a Challenge in a very long Land's End to John o' Groats, when Derek and Marian were magnificent in supporting me the length and breadth of Scotland. I will always be grateful to them both for this, and their continued kindness.

Derek loved the Challenge. He loved the Challenge family and everything it stood for.

I'm raising a glass to you tonight Derek.

Cheers, and thank you.
Alan
x

Re: Derek Emsley

SAD news, as it always is, when a legend dies.
My condolences to his family at this time.
Gone, but never forgotten!

Re: Derek Emsley

I have just picked this up. I am saddened by the news. In my early challenger years I often came across Derek and later on when Derek ceased challenging often found him keeping an eye on the new breed of challengers. My sympathies to his family.
Russ

Re: Derek Emsley

Both Avril & I are very sad to hear this news. I knew Derek from the early years of the Challenge. Sometimes irascible and prepared to upset folk with his opinions which were always genuinely held but not always agreed with. He was also the first to help out any Challenger needing assistance, he was full of advice which was generously given. After his tenth Challenge, when we all had to take a compulsory year off, he took his camper van around the Challenge circuit passing out generous amounts of tea and sandwiches; all at no cost.
Known as the original Mr. Grumpy, a title I am proud to inherit, he will be missed. I am now raising a glass to his memory and send our condolences to Marion and his family.

Re: Derek Emsley

That's sad news in deed, he was a character and the original Mr grumpy
in a nice way,
my condolences to Marion and family.

Re: Derek Emsley

The local newspaper, the Strathspey and Badenoch Herald, (The Strathy), in the edition published on 29 October has an extensive obituary of Derek, written by Peter Evans, well known to older Challengers.

Re: Derek Emsley

RIP

Derek helped me with a booking on my first challenge, and I dropped in and visited him on the way through, met Marian. Lovely couple. They had spent some time down under, even in areas local to me, so we had a good connection. I took the time to visit during my 2013 challenge with family and we had a pleasant afternoon recalling my last visit and places we both knew in Australia.

I send my sympathy to Marian.

Mike