Derek Boote (13 December 1942, Anglesey East,

Anglesey Anglesey ( ; ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms the bulk of the Principal areas of Wales, county known as the Isle of Anglesey, which also includes Holy Island, Anglesey, Holy Island () and some islets and Skerry, sker ...

, Wales - 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 in Wales. It is located in the south of the island west of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll and southeast of Llangefni . The A5 runs through the village, and t ...

. He was educated in

Llangefni ; ) is the county town of Anglesey in Wales. At the 2011 census, Llangefni's population was 5,116, making it the second-largest town in the county and the largest on the island. The community includes the village of Rhosmeirch. Location The ...

and at the

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama () is a conservatoire located in Cardiff, Wales. It has three theatres: the Richard Burton Theatre, the Bute Theatre, and the Caird Studio. It also includes one concert hall, the Dora Stoutzker Hall, and ...

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

Hywel Gwynfryn Hywel Gwynfryn (born 13 July 1942) is a Welsh television and radio personality and lyricist. He started working for the BBC in 1964 and joined BBC Radio Cymru at its inception, being the first voice heard on the new station. Career Gwynfryn was ...

; they later formed a group with singer

Endaf Emlyn Endaf Emlyn (born 31 July 1944) is a Welsh musician and 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 alongs ...

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

Cân i Gymru ''Cân i Gymru'' (English: ''A Song for Wales'', ) is a Welsh-language television talent competition that is broadcast annually on S4C. It was first introduced in 1969 when BBC Cymru wanted to enter the Eurovision Song Contest. The winner of ...

''. 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 (EP) is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album. Contemporary EPs generally contain up to eight tracks and have a playing time of 15 to 30 minutes. An EP is usually less cohesive ...

''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 Gyf ...

, and at tall was a keen amateur rugby player. On October 17, 1974, Boote was dressed up in a space monster costume for a children's scifi programme named Maldwyn Aldwyn and waiting to go on at

BBC Studios BBC Studios Limited is a British content company. It is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC that was formed in April 2018 through the merger of the BBC's commercial production arm and the BBC's commercial international distribution arm, BBC Wor ...

. Screams were heard from his dressing room and he was found engulfed in flames. He was badly burned and rushed to hospital in critical condition. The explanation given by Gareth Price in his work ''Broadcasters of BBC Wales'' was that he had been smoking a cigarette during a break and the ash from his cigarette had dropped on his costume, which had ignited after a short time. He later died from his injuries in

Chepstow Chepstow () 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 end of the ...

hospital. The costume was supposed to have been fireproof, but the protection was ineffective.

References

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