Derek Boote (13 December 1942 - 29 November 1974) was a Welsh singer and actor. Boote came from Star, near

Gaerwen Gaerwen () is a village on the island of Anglesey in the community of Llanfihangel Ysgeifiog. It is located in the south of the island west of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll and southeast of Llangefni . The A5 runs through the village, and the A55 r ...

Anglesey Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island across the narrow Cymyran Strait and some islets and skerries. Anglesey island ...

. He was educated in

Llangefni Llangefni (meaning "church on the River Cefni", ) is the county town of Anglesey in Wales and contains the principal offices of the Isle of Anglesey County Council. United Kingdom Census 2011 recorded Llangefni's population as 5,116 people, maki ...

and at the

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama , image_name = Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.jpg , image_size = , motto = , established = 1949 , type = Public , staff = , vice_chancellor = , students = 779 (2017/18) , undergrad ...

in Cardiff. Boote played the guitar and double bass and sang with the Welsh broadcaster

Hywel Gwynfryn Hywel Gwynfryn (born 13 July 1942 at Llangefni, Anglesey) is a Wales, Welsh TV, and radio personality and lyricist. He started working for the BBC in 1964 and joined Radio Cymru at its inception. Career Gwynfryn joined the BBC as a presenter in 1 ...

; they later formed a group with singer

Endaf Emlyn Endaf Emlyn (born 31 July 1944) is a Welsh musician, film, and television director. Early life Emlyn was born in Bangor, Caernarfonshire, Wales. He was brought up in Pwllheli and played violin in the National Youth Orchestra of Wales alongside ...

. Boote competed in the 1971 edition of Welsh singing competition ''

Cân i Gymru ''Cân i Gymru'' (English: ''A Song for Wales'', ) is a Welsh television show broadcast on S4C annually. It was first introduced in 1969 when BBC Cymru wanted to enter the Eurovision Song Contest. It has taken place every year since, except in ...

''. Boote performed alongside Ryan and Ronnie, playing the original Nigel Wyn character on their sketch show. After his death, he was replaced by Bryn Williams. He also appeared in the Welsh-language television programme ''Dau a Hanner'' (Two and a Half). Boote released an

EP record An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record.

''Byw'n Rhydd'' on the Recordiau'r Dryw label. Boote occasionally taught at

Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari Ysgol Llanhari is a Welsh-medium school for 3-19 year olds situated in the village of Llanharry, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. History Llanhari is one of the Welsh medium secondary schools in the area, having opened in 1974. It followed Ysgol Gyfu ...

, and at tall was a keen amateur rugby player. Boote died in 1974 in

Chepstow Chepstow ( cy, Cas-gwent) is a town and community in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the tidal River Wye, about above its confluence with the River Severn, and adjoining the western ...

, following a freak accident. While filming a children's programme, his costume caught fire after he dropped cigarette ash on it, and he was seriously burned.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boote, Derek 1942 births 1974 deaths Deaths from fire Welsh-speaking actors Welsh folk singers British folk guitarists British double-bassists