A community mourns after the death of Derek Lightbody, who passed away just six months short of his 100th birthday.
Mr Lightbody, or ‘Dee’ as he was affectionally known by those who called him a friend, was a beloved resident of Chorleywood, well-known to many in the village’s cafes and pubs.
He raised his family in nearby village Chenies before eventually moving to Chorleywood some years ago.
Cllr Phil Williams, who’s family runs the Rootz Café on the Main Parade, said: “Dee was a good friend to everyone that knew him with a sharp sense of humour. The world has lost a true gentleman.”
Derek was also known for the fact in 1999, he was the recipient of an honorary Academy Award plaque for his work in lighting for the film industry.
He was man behind Aurasoft, a lighting technology that provided movies with a revolutionary new way to light films.
Using thousands of small, spherical mirrors inside a coned lamp, it reduced the directness of the beams when different lights crossed, giving the scenes a soft even spread of illumination.
This was the closest replication of natural light the film industry had ever seen.
Hit movies such as Shakespeare in Love, Trainspotting and the James Bond series used the technology, which Derek developed when he was a technical consultant at film equipment manufacturer OpTex.
Mr Lightbody’s funeral was held on the Tuesday, 2nd of December, followed by a celebration of his life at the Bedford Arms pub.
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