The following was noted in the Downs Mail in early March:

Penenden Heath resident, Derek Sayer’s local knowledge helped to shape books about the area.

Derek (84) contributed significant information about the local area to both Robin Ambrose’s books, ‘Boxley – The Story of an English Parish’ and the recently released ‘Penenden Heath’s Story’.

Derek’s parents moved to Maidstone in 1937. Good at sport, he was a first XI fast bowler at the grammar school at the age of 14 and a fine swimmer.

In 1945, his spirit of adventure led him to the Palestine Police Force, keeping the precarious peace on the border with Lebanon.