Derek Burns, a long-standing member of the Friends of Blaker’s Park, died in July 2015. As a boy he had lived in Chester Terrace and attended the Downs school and Varndean Grammar School. From there he went on to Birmingham University to study engineering. After that he worked on government projects in the Isle of Wight. Later he took posts in Vancouver, Canada, before returning to Brighton in the 1960’s. At that time Derek became attracted to the alternative society and was involved with the peace movement and the NCCL. He helped produce the Brighton Voice, which was a newspaper supporting the ‘little man’ against ‘big battalions’.
Derek was a keen student of local history and gave valuable support to the FBP Newsletter. He was a familiar figure at AGMs and at the Community Picnic. We are glad to have known him.
