On-island family will celebrate with cake and champagne and those abroad will pop in virtually via video call.
Telegrams from the Queen, the Lt-Governor and the Bailiff are expected too.
Born in Wigan, Lancashire, as one of four boys, Mr Derbyshire was the only child in his primary school to win a scholarship to the local grammar school.
Jokingly, he said: ‘I was quite a young baby.’
The son of a miner, at age 16 he left school to earn some money and secured a job delivering groceries on his bicycle.
As a keen and talented sport-lover, Mr Derbyshire was called for a trial as a professional footballer at Chesterfield Football Club.
Unfortunately this coincided with his call-up papers arriving at the outbreak of the Second World War, so he trained as a signalman for the Royal Navy.
During his time with the Navy he was part of a Malta supply convoy on which his ship was bombed twice.
Mr Derbyshire is proud that he challenged the Italian fleet as they entered Valletta Harbour, saying it was his claim to fame.
In 1947, he married his childhood sweetheart, Joan, and together they had two daughters – the eldest, Jill, and Claire.
Post-war he trained as a teacher, staying in Lancashire to teach for a few years before the family moved to Guernsey in 1956.
Mr Derbyshire taught at St Andrew’s Primary School before moving to St Martin’s Primary.
He became deputy headmaster at St Saviour’s Primary School before returning to St Martin’s as headmaster, where he stayed until retirement in 1982.
‘I’ve left my mark at those schools.’
His daughter Jill said he spent as much time working as he has been retired, to which he replied: ‘That’s the way to do it.’
Although he loved all subjects, teaching sport was a particular favourite and his school football teams enjoyed much success.
He was a popular teacher for his patience and kindness, with former students saying he was the best teacher they ever had.
Mr and Mrs Derbyshire were both staunch members of St Martin’s Church and enjoyed being on the social committee, organising regular church concerts.
He also wrote many pantomimes, songs and sketches on the committee.
As well as football, he played cricket and snooker and took an interest in all things sporty – except rugby union.
‘There’s too many on the side,’ Mr Derbyshire said.
Tending an allotment on Rue des Grons, he was a dab hand at growing vegetables.
‘From the allotment I would take cabbages to the market. That’s when I was young.’
Favourite memories come by the boatload.
‘They’re all my favourite. My marriage? Oh yes, we were married for over 60 years. And my children, my two girls. Going to the beach for fish and chips at Cobo, they were happy days.’
Mrs Derbyshire sadly passed away in 2008 and Mr Derbyshire continues to live on Saints Road assisted by Claire and carers. Jill lives in South Wales with her husband, Simon, and visits regularly when possible. Now Mr Derbyshire has seven grandsons who live in Guernsey, the USA, Canada and Sweden, with two great-grandchildren in Chicago.
All intended to visit on his birthday, but with the pandemic the celebrations will hopefully be rearranged later this year.
Jill said Mr Derbyshire’s secret to long life is eating anything put in front of him, as was needed in his childhood.
‘He never complains either, he’s always happy.’
Keeping busy, active and saying ‘no way’ to sitting down were given as good reasons too, along with piano-playing, crosswords and Scrabble.
Mr Derbyshire’s take on longevity was: ‘Beechams, I think,’ he said.
‘And a nice life in Guernsey.’
You need to be logged in to comment. If you had an account on our previous site, you can migrate your old account and comment profile to this site by visiting this page and entering the email address for your old account. We'll then send you an email with a link to follow to complete the process.