Derek joined WRJ Greenslade & Co in 1983 from Berry Bros in Northampton. A dairy farmer’s son from Castle Cary in Somerset, he trained at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester and was articled at RB Taylor & Son in Yeovil in 1978. Derek became an equity partner in 1986 at the age of 27. He heads up the farm sales department as a specialist live and deadstock auctioneer and spends up to 2 days a week at the new market. He is on the Arbitrator’s panel for specialist livestock valuations of all types. He is actively involved in carrying out TB valuations in Wales and in his spare time he manages his livestock farm on the Quantock Hills.