Derek Webber
A stalwart for the community of Okehampton and a man who enjoys every aspect of life.
Did you know that a microwave is invaluable when you are making a walking stick? I certainly didn’t, but Derek Webber, whose hobby is making walking sticks, swears by the appliances.
‘Just a little while on defrost and you can mould the ram’s horn and shape them to make the handle,’ said Derek. ‘The only downside is if there’s a blood blister in the horn — it brings it up to the surface!’
Having the time to devote to a hobby which helps him unwind is a bit of a challenge to Derek, aged 76, who is a very busy man indeed. The chairman of Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council, he is also a trustee of the Okehampton United Charities; he is a member of Dartmoor National Park Authority, of Hatherleigh Rotary Club and a trustee of Okehampton Agricultural Show.
Born in North Devon, he studied at Bicton College and joined the prison service in Exeter in 1964. Relocating to many different prisons as his career progressed, he finally ended up responsible for the agricultural division of a whole region, his final posting being HMP Dartmoor, and his move to his present home in Okehampton 22 years ago.
One of his last assignments was to close the prison farm at Princetown.
‘It was very sad,’ said Derek. ‘We had the best farm for miles around, it was like a green oasis in the middle of the moor.’
While at HMP Dartmoor, he helped set up the prison museum and a love and interest in old machinery and engineering was born. At one point he possessed eight ancient tractors — that tally has now been reduced to one, due to having nowhere to store them. It takes pride of place on Derek’s driveway — much to his wife Ruby’s annoyance!
A family man with two daughters, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren, he counts himself a lucky man to be living in Okehampton.
‘We certainly enjoy living here. It’s a friendly place and it’s been easy to get involved with organisations. Getting involved with the parish council and charities have made us a lot of friends and acquaintances.
‘I love the moors and I think that’s one of the big attractions about Okehampton — we have Dartmoor literally on our doorstep but sometimes we don’t appreciate it enough,’ said Derek, who said he was delighted that more than 300 youngsters recently enjoyed a nature day at Bluebell Wood, which is owned by the parish council. Organised by Dartmoor National Park, the day involved all sorts of pursuits, from dissecting owl pellets to making replica swallows nests from mud. ‘It was really good, lovely to see them up there,’ said Derek, who has also organised the ‘beating of the bounds’ of the parish of Okehampton Hamlets ever since moving to the town.
‘It starts in Meldon Valley and finishes up at Okehampton Army Camp — it’s about an eleven mile trek. I should think we get about two to three hundred people joining us — it’s a good event.’
Aside from the pride he takes in a long and successful prison career, being the president of Okehampton Show in 2009 was a real milestone for Derek. ‘It was a great honour to do it, and we had a good year for weather. It’s one of the best one-day shows in the Westcountry and if you get the weather, you really do get the crowds.
‘One of the biggest challenges for the show committee now is getting younger people to take things on. It’s crucial if these events are going to continue, you need new blood and a younger generation to see them keep going.’