A former regional press photographer who went on to work with celebrities such as Liz Taylor, The Beatles and Chris Tarrant has died aged 80.

Derek Millward, left, joined the Derby Telegraph in the early 1950s after starting his career on a motorcycling magazine.

He went on to work for a number of other media organisations including the Nottingham Evening Post, Birmingham Post, Press Association, BBC and ITV.

During his career he photographed numerous celebrities including Cary Grant and the Queen, as well as capturing national incidents such as the Aberfan disaster in which 144 people died.

His daughter Sophie Millward, 36, said her father always considered himself lucky to find a job he loved so much.

She said: “Photography was his life. As far back as I can remember he always had a camera with him wherever we went.”

Born in Chesterfield, Derek’s photography career began while he was on national service, capturing air crashes for investigation purposes.

During his time at the Nottingham Evening Post, he is rumoured to have briefly dated singer Petula Clark after photographing her during a visit to the city in 1958.

He met his wife Julie in 1964 after moving to London to work for PA. The pair were married at Chelsea Old Church in 1966 and had three children, Nick, 39, Ben, 38 and Sophie.

In 1972, the family moved to the West Midlands and Derek worked for the Express and Star, the Birmingham Post and Mail and as a roving cameraman for BBC Midlands Today.

Derek also worked as a freelance cameraman for the popular kids’ TV show Tiswas presented by Chris Tarrant – to the delight of his children.

Said Sophie: “I remember going along with dad to watch the show being filmed. It was terribly exciting.”

Derek was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus four years ago and died recently in Stourbridge, West Midlands.

He sadly just missed out on seeing his first grandchild, son Nick and daughter-in-law Rachel’s daughter Evie, born six days after his death.

Comments

Ivor Biggun (19/11/2009 10:26:57)
“Snapper’s career encompassed regional press and Tiswas”
Am i the only person who thinks this description is highly insulting?

Des E Gershon (20/11/2009 10:49:06)
I was virtually a junior to Derek when I first met him in Derby. We met again when I worked in Bristol and he was then with PA Reuters. His anecdotal stories about assignments and photographers was almost infinte often mimicing the various characters in the tales. We met again when I was working for ATV and Derek came in as a freelance. We lost touch with each other for twenty years or more and it was only a few weeks ago that I telephoned him to discuss writing a piece about the old time press photographers who used plates (Derek used a VN Press camera with a 9x12cm plate when we first met)instead of the current operators who know only digital. Regretably I delayed in going over to see him and was saddened to read his passing. May I wish his wife Julie and their children (and now a new grandchild) a long life and may Derek’s dear soul rest in peace.

jason hurst (01/12/2009 11:15:48)
yes ivor maybe you are, i skipped other headlines on this site,because the headline caught my eye and was intrigued.
i made a good call. anyhow we are in the business of punchy eye catching headlines and images, cant see the insult really, and judging by the mr gershons comments derek wouldnt have complained! lighten up!