STEVE BURNS
Club Member
Derek Norman Sulley(8 Apr 1948 - 17 Oct 2018)
Funeral Service
Location
Mansfield and District Crematorium
Derby Road Mansfield NG18 5BJ
Date 7th Nov 2018
Time 2.45pm
In loving memory of Derek Norman Sulley who sadly passed away on 17th October 2018
Derek was born on 08 April 1948 to Robert (Norman) and Winifred Sulley, growing up in Arnold, Nottinghamshire. At school Dereks reports state he excelled at English and technical drawing, as well as being a driving force in his local scout troop and singing in his local church choir. The scouts had a significant impact on Derek, leading him to complete the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award through to Gold level, and also take part in a number of outward bound courses. He would later pass on his love of the outdoors and camping to his two sons.
From an early stage in his life, Derek knew he wanted to be a Police Officer, and in 1967 joined Nottinghamshire Constabulary (later Nottinghamshire Police), training in Yorkshire. It’s evident from a large number of letters that Derek was very close to his Mother who wrote to him numerous times a week, keeping him updated on the local gossip and people their pet dog Bob had chased. Throughout his Police career Derek worked predominantly in the Mansfield and Ollerton areas, covering roles such as response, custody, firearms and traffic. Certainly the time he enjoyed most was spent on the Traffic Wing based out of Ollerton. He has maintained friendships with many people who he worked with in this field.
In 1978 Derek married Heidi, with Matthew being born in 1982 and Nathan in 1984. Despite the pressures of shift work, Derek always ensured he never missed a Christmas or one of his Sons Birthdays, and always made sure there was a family holiday every year, which often would mean towing a caravan to the West coast of France. Despite not liking the sun, Derek always ensured there was a cricket or football pitch marked on the beach and Matthew and Nathan would quickly wear him out.
Late at night on 7th December 1985, Derek along with two colleagues, entered a lake at Clumber Park in an attempt to save the lives of two women who’d become entrapped in a car submerged within the lake. Unfortunately one of the women could not be saved, but for his efforts and personal risk, Derek was awarded a commendation by the Royal Humane Society.
On retiring from the Police, Derek would help Heidi on her pig farm, and was always very proud of her winning pig breeder of the year. Life on the farm was tough, with massive fluctuations in the price of pork, but both Derek and Heidi always ensured their family came first. Derek served on the PTA at both Halam Primary School, and The Minster School, and supported both his sons through the Duke of Edinburgh award programme. He taught Matthew how to build, plumb and do carpentry, and showed Nathan how to fix cars.
After Heidi’s sudden and untimley death, Derek helped Matthew and Nathan care for her parents, and made certain everyone was brought together for Easter and Christmas.
From a very young age Derek had a keen interest in motorsport and cars in general. He had taken part in various rally driving stages, and always had something he was fixing up. He was very proud when Matthew graduated from Oxford Brooke’s Universtiy with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and Nathan from Coventry University with a degree in Motor Sport Engineering, most probably because he thought somebody else would do the fixing! In later life in true retirement, Derek would put his efforts in to collecting and preserving retired Police cars and Datsun Sports cars, as well as running the club shops for both those interests.
Derek was 70 in April this year and enjoyed a wonderful family dinner in Oxfordshire (profile photo), and Catherine baked him a Police car cake to aid the celebration. He was extremely happy on this day. Despite passing far sooner than he wanted, his illness although severe was relatively short, and he’d managed any pain just with paracetamol. He was very lucky to have so many friends, be they old work colleagues, people from his various car clubs, or his kind neighbours. He also had a loving family who miss him immensely.
Derek is survived by his Sons Matthew and Nathan, and Matthew’s family, Catherine, and children Chloe (7) and James (4).
Matthew is a Police Inspector with Thames Valley Police. Nathan is a lorry driver, property developer, gym owner and continues his Fathers passion for sports cars. Nathan also looks after Rufus, Dereks dog who misses him greatly.
From an early stage in his life, Derek knew he wanted to be a Police Officer, and in 1967 joined Nottinghamshire Constabulary (later Nottinghamshire Police), training in Yorkshire. It’s evident from a large number of letters that Derek was very close to his Mother who wrote to him numerous times a week, keeping him updated on the local gossip and people their pet dog Bob had chased. Throughout his Police career Derek worked predominantly in the Mansfield and Ollerton areas, covering roles such as response, custody, firearms and traffic. Certainly the time he enjoyed most was spent on the Traffic Wing based out of Ollerton. He has maintained friendships with many people who he worked with in this field.
In 1978 Derek married Heidi, with Matthew being born in 1982 and Nathan in 1984. Despite the pressures of shift work, Derek always ensured he never missed a Christmas or one of his Sons Birthdays, and always made sure there was a family holiday every year, which often would mean towing a caravan to the West coast of France. Despite not liking the sun, Derek always ensured there was a cricket or football pitch marked on the beach and Matthew and Nathan would quickly wear him out.
Late at night on 7th December 1985, Derek along with two colleagues, entered a lake at Clumber Park in an attempt to save the lives of two women who’d become entrapped in a car submerged within the lake. Unfortunately one of the women could not be saved, but for his efforts and personal risk, Derek was awarded a commendation by the Royal Humane Society.
On retiring from the Police, Derek would help Heidi on her pig farm, and was always very proud of her winning pig breeder of the year. Life on the farm was tough, with massive fluctuations in the price of pork, but both Derek and Heidi always ensured their family came first. Derek served on the PTA at both Halam Primary School, and The Minster School, and supported both his sons through the Duke of Edinburgh award programme. He taught Matthew how to build, plumb and do carpentry, and showed Nathan how to fix cars.
After Heidi’s sudden and untimley death, Derek helped Matthew and Nathan care for her parents, and made certain everyone was brought together for Easter and Christmas.
From a very young age Derek had a keen interest in motorsport and cars in general. He had taken part in various rally driving stages, and always had something he was fixing up. He was very proud when Matthew graduated from Oxford Brooke’s Universtiy with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and Nathan from Coventry University with a degree in Motor Sport Engineering, most probably because he thought somebody else would do the fixing! In later life in true retirement, Derek would put his efforts in to collecting and preserving retired Police cars and Datsun Sports cars, as well as running the club shops for both those interests.
Derek was 70 in April this year and enjoyed a wonderful family dinner in Oxfordshire (profile photo), and Catherine baked him a Police car cake to aid the celebration. He was extremely happy on this day. Despite passing far sooner than he wanted, his illness although severe was relatively short, and he’d managed any pain just with paracetamol. He was very lucky to have so many friends, be they old work colleagues, people from his various car clubs, or his kind neighbours. He also had a loving family who miss him immensely.
Derek is survived by his Sons Matthew and Nathan, and Matthew’s family, Catherine, and children Chloe (7) and James (4).
Matthew is a Police Inspector with Thames Valley Police. Nathan is a lorry driver, property developer, gym owner and continues his Fathers passion for sports cars. Nathan also looks after Rufus, Dereks dog who misses him greatly.
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