Banker and talented sportsman killed in New York terror attacks

Former Monifieth High pupil Derek Sword was one the 67 UK victims of the attacks on the World Tr a d e Cen t re on September 11 2001.

The 29-year-old equity sales analyst for financial firm Keefe, Bruyette & Woods died after the second hijacked plane hit the south tower, where he was working at his desk on the 89th floor.

He perished only 10 days after becoming engaged to New Yorker Maureen Sullivan during a romantic break at Skibo Castle in the Highlands.

“We planned to make our life and continue our careers in New York. It was our city and we never wanted to be anywhere else,” Maureen said in an interview after his death.

His family would go on to launch the world’s first ever World Squash Day in Derek’s memor y – an annual professional event competing for the Derek Sword Trophy.

Derek and twin brother Allan were also both f o rm e r t e n n i s internat iona ls and represen ted Great Britain’s hockey team at under-21 level.

The twins’ scholastic careers were also similar.

Both attended Monifieth High School and the brothers graduated on the same day with the same degree – a BA (Hons) in Commerce from the former Dundee Institute of Te c h n o l o g y, now Abertay University.

Their father David and mother Irene , from Mo n i f i e t h , are both f o rm e r h o c k e y internationalists, while their older brother Graeme was also a double internationalist in hockey and squash for Scotland.

Keen sportsman Derek joined New York Athletic Club after moving to the c i t y. He was their champion squash player in 2001 and met Maureen at a club dinner.

The pair had planned to marry in 2002.

Derek phoned his parents minutes after the first airliner struck the building to say he was OK.

He called again, after the second plane struck, to say he was fleeing the burning building.

It was the last contact his fiancée and family had with him.

“He brought life and laughter and fun to two continents. That’s the way I want him remembered,” Irene said in an interview.

Derek Sword.