POPULAR bandsman and entertainments agency founder Derek Wells has died at the age of 80. Derek, who died on December 14, was born in 1940 to Stan and Phylis Wells in Moreton in Marsh before the family moved to Evesham. He attended Bengeworth Junior School and on passing his 11 plus exam in 1951, moved to Prince Henry’s Grammar School. Derek’s lifelong interest in music was already evident, as he sang in the church choir at St Peter’s in Bengeworth, while money left by great-grandmother Fanny Hopkins was used to buy his first saxophone. Derek was taught to play the instrument by George Hands, a member of the Music Makers Band.