Derek Bell: A chieftain among men and fellow musicians

George Derek Fleetwood Bell was born in Belfast in 1935. Because he had eye problems from an early age, he was given musical instruments rather than visual toys. He was 11 when he composed his first concerto and four years later won a scholarship in composition to the Royal College of Music. In the early 1960s he became interested in the harp. He was regarded as a child prodigy.

It was 50 years ago that the Belfast man joined The Chieftains, changing his life and theirs Musician Derek Bell George Derek Fleetwood Bell was born in Belfast in 1935. Because he had eye problems from an early age, he was given musical instruments rather than visual toys. He was 11 when he composed his first concerto and four years later won a scholarship in composition to the Royal College of Music.

In the early 1960s he became interested in the harp. He was regarded as a child prodigy. “He started to compose for the harp and, when asked what instruments he could play competently, he listed the piano, xylophone, percussion and eight members of the oboe family, according to his sister Deirdre.

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