Tributes after death of popular pub landlord renowned in Harrogate district for many years

Derek and his wife Bridget bought The Yorkshire Lass pub on High Bridge in Knaresborough in September 1988 after owning two successful pubs in Kilmarnock, Scotland.

They upped sticks and moved down to Yorkshire with their three children.

Derek made a huge success of The Lass, regularly hosting music nights with musicians including Robin Van Zelst, Tony Cerexhe, Rachel Goodwin, and bands inc The Drouthy Band, The Duke Boys, Big Idea, Jabberwocky and many many more.

Theme nights were also a regular feature with medieval banquets and beaujolais nights being particularly popular.

Derek and Bridget owned The Yorkshire Lass until their semi retirement in 2007 where they then moved to The Half Moon also in Knaresborough for a few years.

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The Lass was well known for it’s beautiful flowers and window boxes that could be seen from the roadside, and won Britain In Bloom several times over.

At one point Derek was the longest-serving landlord in Knaresborough and was very proud of that fact.

After retirement after being a knaresborough publican for 25 years, he was still a regular in and around Knaresborough and knew everyone everywhere he went.

He loved Knaresborough, was a proud Scot and an equally proud honorary Yorkshireman until the day he died on Friday, March 6.

His funeral will be held at St John’s Church on Friday, March 20 at 1pm. All are welcome.

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