Derek Pearce

OUT OF THE WOODWORK!

It’s a few years since I gave up passive smoking and shaking my head to loud music in a van. I took some gap years from gigging with Roaring Jelly and moved to London. I became a sculptor and designer and made a vow only to do creative work. Shortly after, I made another vow that I would only do creative work if it made money. My sculpted tables have been exhibited all over the world and I have a list of prestigious clients. Some of my designs are now being produced in America. For eight years I also worked as a Lecturer at Wimbledon School of Art on a most inspiring ‘Technical Arts for Theatre and Film Course’. (I later discovered that ‘Queen Victoria’ also worked at Wimbledon, between playing Sousaphone for Bob Kerr’s Whoopee Band.) I have taught Paul Scofield woodcarving, Helen Mirren how to polka, and Bill Bailey everything he knows about Stage Carpentry (which is probably why he is so good on the piano). I have composed music for several Theatre Shows, Radio Drama and Film and Television and I have done several celebration projects alongside John Fox of Welfare State International and Engineers Of The Imagination. I am married to ‘Jolene’, who is married to ‘Sid Perks’ and together they run ‘The Bull’ in ‘Ambridge’. My son is 9 years old and last year did his first paid gig, playing trumpet in the streets of Crouch End (a personal gig for Peter Hewitt, Chief Executive of the Arts Council). I have always been inspired by eccentrics such as Spike Milligan and Ivor Cutler (neither still with us, sadly) but I am constantly surprised and inspired by the wit and humour of the great Clive Harvey, which is why we are back working together. Anyone who can write these lines must be a genius:-

“Why can’t I be adventurous with cheese? I always seem to buy cheddar...”