Dancer and later chief executive of Birmingham Royal Ballet who took leading roles at the Wallace Collection and then Strawberry Hill House in London Derek Purnell, who has died aged 71 of a brain tumour, had a career focused on the arts and heritage encompassing both performance and administration. He had a true sense of purpose and the ability to inspire his colleagues, and always took an interest in their work. In…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:32PM on September 16, 2025