Vale Derek Arthurs 1940 - 2008

13-Jun-2008 - Robyn Castle

Derek John Michael Arthurs was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in March 1940, and started playing tennis when he was ten years old. He played right-handed, and became quite proficient at the game, in which he represented his country in Davis Cup competition.

According to the Wodonga Border Mail, Derek met Angie at a tennis court in Surrey, England and it was probably always going to be “game, set and well-matched” with these two!  Derek married Angie in 1966 and together they raised 3 children, Kerry, Michael and Wayne. Derek has been quoted as saying about Angie “I think it’s the package, she is extremely even-tempered. . . . . . . and she has absolutely no faults.”  They were together as a married couple for 42 years.

The attraction on their first meeting was that Derek was looking after someone else’s children – this made Angie think: ‘that’s the guy I want to be the father of my children.’ ‘He is still very good with children,’ she said, ‘fantastic at coaching them.’ Also, Derek and Angie became proud grandparents ten years ago and have 4 grandchildren, Emelie, Jason, Jamie and Amber.

Derek and Angie moved to Australia in 1966 to live in Adelaide where they met many of their tennis friends who are all involved in Senior tennis around Australia. They moved to Melbourne in 1979 where they joined the Glen Iris Tennis Club and have been members ever since.

Whilst in Adelaide, Derek coached and managed the Australian Badminton team, and he could also boast that he represented Ireland in Squash as well as Tennis.

Tennis Seniors have seen what a talented player he has been, winning 12 titles in Teams’ competition over 16 years, and he has won many Doubles events including the Australian 65+ Doubles in January 2006 and 2007. When asked what his tennis ambition was, Derek stated that it was to “keep playing.”

Even though he was stricken with cancer, that’s exactly what he did. No one could believe where he got the stamina while he was so ill. We saw him play in Wodonga in January, representing Victoria in the Teams’ competition, and in the Australian Doubles with his friend, Bob Howes.

He will be always remembered as a quick-witted and funny man, who could be relied upon to lighten up the conversation, wherever he may have been. We will all miss Derek terribly, and our hearts go out to his family, Angie, Kerry, Michael and Wayne.

His friend and partner Bob Howes recalls with great pride, Derek’s elation when they won the ITF World 60+ Doubles in Perth, 2001. Together they have won at least 4 Australian titles as well, 2000, 2005, 2006 and 2007. “He was a great bloke, both on and off the court, and it was a pleasure to be with him.”

Thursday, June 12 in Burwood, Victoria, hundreds of mourners, local, Interstate and from overseas, packed the funeral parlour to pay Derek their last respects. Tributes were read by family and friends, some of which are quoted:

From a reading by Bob Howes in the “order of service”:

“You can close your eyes and pray they’ll come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all they’ve left you.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see them,
Or your heart can be full with the love you’ve shared.”

Derek’s long-time friend Frank Aiken (in Ireland) wrote:

“. . . . Sandyford became your Dublin sporting base for the next 7/8 years as you played Boys, Senior International and, superbly, Davis Cup Tennis. You were not always good company for days after some contests. There were many memorable and great moments.

We danced twice only!

First time was around the Mechanical Engineering Degree notice board at Queens University as your Honours Degree was announced. You were fully clothed that time!

Second time was after a fifth rubber, 5 set Davis cup win over Switzerland, when I went to the shower room at Fitzwilliam to shout congratulations. You came out from under the shower and we danced around. You were wet, I got wet. 

51 years was a long friendship, but not long enough, and I didn’t get to say thanks for what you meant to me, nor ‘goodbye Derek’.  Goodbye Derek and rest in Peace.

Now as the Umpire always used to say, “Thank you Linesmen, Thank you Ballboys.”

R Castle.