NEWS OBITUARY


Derek moore 1945-2023


The Explore co-founder and Aito stalwart was ‘the brightest of guiding lights’. By Juliet Dennis


D


erek Moore made an impression on most people he met. Many recall his ability


to combine professionalism with humour. Others cite his destination knowledge, organisational skills and passion for travel. Almost all remember him as a travel legend. Not all, however, will be aware


how much Derek achieved in his career, from his early days as a geography teacher and overland tour guide to co-founding Explore Worldwide, becoming chairman of Aito, The Specialist Travel Association and, latterly, creating a charity. All are testament to Derek’s work ethic and outgoing personality.


‘Grand plan’ His entrepreneurial spirit was evident as a student when he rented a 50-seat coach to take people to a Bob Dylan concert and sold seats in his van to get to London. By 25, Derek already had a ‘grand


plan’ to travel the globe; he would go on to visit more than 100 countries. His first foray in the industry


was in 1968 when he bought a Ford Transit minibus to drive 12 tourists


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to Morocco and back for operator Oasis Safaris. He later joined Penn Overland (later PennWorld) as a tour guide, travelling on buses to Kathmandu. It was there he met Travers Cox and Derek Cook, with whom he set up Explore Worldwide in 1981 after PennWorld’s closure. Those who worked with


Derek remember him as a shrewd businessman and operations expert. At Explore, he was known as a


tough taskmaster. Former Explore managing director Ashley Toft, who joined as a tour leader in 1988, recalls a three-hour job interview grilling that ended with a flight ticket for Morocco two days later. “I had to find the Explore group


in Marrakech and Derek set up an incident where someone went missing for me to deal with; he liked to test you!” says Toft, who adds: “He understood different cultures and the challenges we faced as tour leaders. It was a privilege to have worked with him in those early Explore days.” John Telfer, non-executive


director at Explore parent Hotelplan, remembers Derek as an “incredible negotiator” and “great mentor” during his days as a tour leader. “He


His contribution


to this industry is immeasurable – I’m proud to have known him


taught me to plan, have fallback plans, deal with disasters, train people and work with groups,” says Telfer. In 1998, Derek handled operations


when 12 Explore customers were kidnapped in Yemen, three of whom were killed. He and Cox fielded questions at a 150-strong press conference after the remaining hostages were released a week later. The incident is believed to have been one of the first Al-Qaeda hostage operations. In the wake of this, Explore put together a company crisis manual.


Explore sale In 2000, Explore was sold to Holidaybreak, reaping Derek around £6 million for his 21.5% stake. He continued as consultant for the brand until 2008 and set up Tailor-Made Groups Company. As chairman of Aito from 2006


to 2020, and deputy up to his death aged 77, he regularly fought the


PICTURES: Andy Huntley


case for independent specialists. Former Aito and Abta chairman


Noel Josephides recalls him as an “excellent frontman for Aito” thanks to his “brilliant turn of phrase” and “sharp mind”, adding: “We’ll all miss his sound counsel and sense of humour.” For former Aito executive director


Kate Kenward, Derek was “the brightest of guiding lights”. “His contribution to this industry


is immeasurable. I’m proud to have known him,” she says. Alastair Donnelly, co-founder of


Aito member Inside Travel Group, is one of many to describe Derek as a “legend of travel”. He says this was complemented by an “easygoing charm, sound advice – and staying power at the bar.” Derek’s determination to give


back was evident in his creation of The Derek Moore Foundation, which funded small community projects worldwide. In true Derek style, he did not


tell many of his battle with cancer in recent years, and continued to attend industry events. “He didn’t want pity,” says


Kenward. “He wanted people to remember him as he was.”


9 FEBRUARY 2023 13


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