This Is Your Life: Derek Scott

Derek SCOTT BEM (1928-2002)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Derek Scott, lifeboat coxswain, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews - with the help of presenter Judith Chalmers - at Thames Television's Teddington Studios, having been led to believe he was there to take part in a different programme.

Derek, who was born in The Mumbles and studied at Swansea College of Art, joined The Mumbles lifeboat crew aged 19 in 1947 following an earlier disaster in which the lifeboat overturned with the loss of all her crew. A few years later, aged 26, he was appointed coxswain - the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's youngest at the time.

In a career spanning 40 years, Derek became one of the most decorated coxons, with two silver medals and one bronze medal, and the British Empire Medal award, which he received in 1970 for his services to the RNLI. He was a technical adviser on the BBC TV series Ennal's Point in 1982 and, as a keen artist, provided paintings for the RNLI Christmas cards.

"I don't believe this! Oh, Eamonn!"

programme details...

Edition No: 719
Subject No: 716
Broadcast date: Wed 21 Jan 1987
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: unknown
Venue: Teddington Studios
Series: 27
Edition: 15
Code name: Great

on the guest list...

Viv Evans
Arthur Eynon
Brian Jeffrey
Alan Jones
Gary Ridd
Carl Smith
Tom Tucker
Peter Algie
Eileen Thomas
Elsie Knowle
Jenny Thomas
Pat - wife
Nicky - daughter
Richard - sister-in-law
Barbara - sister
Lorna - sister
David - brother-in-law
Marjorie - aunt
Miriam - sister-in-law
Jonathan - godson
Billy Govier
Jack Whitford
Billy Davies
Hywel Cocker
Karl Kostromin
Philip Madoc
Johnny Williams
Derek McCutcheon
David Bowden
Arthur Bevan
Peter - grandson
David - grandson
Mervin Hardridge
Morris Ryan
Laurence Whitehead
Kenneth Moore
Gerry Goldsmith

production team...

Researchers: Christine Fanthome, Tom Wettengel
Writer: Roy Bottomley
Directors: Terry Yarwood, Michael D Kent
Associate Producer: Brian Klein
Producer: Malcolm Morris

related pages...

Life Savers

heroes of the emergency services

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

Screenshots of Derek Scott This Is Your Life

The Lifeboat Magazine Spring 1987

'Life' landmark

Derek Scott, coxswain of The Mumbles lifeboat, pictured during the special This Is Your Life programme about him. Derek, holder of the BEM, two silver and one bronze RNLI bravery awards, as well as a Royal Humane Society award, said: "It was one of the happiest days of my life. It was a landmark in my life which I shall never forget." The secret was kept from him for 14 days and he was lured to the Thames Television studios on the pretext of taking part in another programme about rescuers and those they save, only to find himself confronted by Eamonn Andrews and the famous big red book. His wife Pat and other members of his family took part, as well as The Mumbles lifeboat crew members and many of those Derek has helped to rescue in his 40 years as a lifeboatman.

Series 27 subjects