Earlier in the year we met Derek. Derek is 63 and lives in Minehead.
He retired a couple of years ago and we had a wide-ranging chat with him about his life, family, his home, current affairs and his passions.
He told us he’d left school and joined the Navy where he gained a Degree. He then used that degree to get him into teaching. One of his passions is aircraft.
We discussed whether his time in the Armed Forces had helped shape his views on politics and politicians. His response was brilliant - no sitting on the fence, no mincing his words.
One of his other passions is football - he’s an avid West Ham fan and uses his regular visits to the games to spend quality time with his son. Like lots of fans he has his match day routine that brings him joy.
What interested us also was when we had a walk around Derek’s home, he showed us his medals from the Navy, and we spotted his West Ham badges in the same box - but on a higher shelf! A sign of his priorities? 😂
Conversation moved onto day-to-day life, and how he and his wife are finding retirement. Besides his football outgoings, they manage the bills between them and keep things simple and considered.
We discussed some of the bigger things going on in the world - War, the economy, climate change, and we had a conversation around age and the perspective it brings. The sense that he feels he’s “seen it all before”… and that “we’re not that important”.
We really enjoyed our chat with Derek and didn’t take this last part of the conversation in a negative or pessimistic way at all. The time we had spent with him told us he is a measured, intelligent person who is adjusting to a new phase in his life. The perspective that age is bringing him is allowing him to deal with the onslaught of life’s issues in a measured way.
Derek: Another person we’ve met, another interesting conversation. Another enjoyable journey. Many more to come!