Vale Keith

It is with immense sadness we share the news that Keith Lyons, of Braidwood NSW, died on 13th May 2020, aged 68.

Keith was everything to us, as a husband to Sue, father to Beth and Sam, and Pa to Ivy and Jolyon.

Details for the funeral are posted here

We will post a full obituary in the coming days.

31 COMMENTS

  1. You were a wonderful person Keith, and this blog a valuable part of a tremendous legacy. Thank you and may you RIP.

  2. I was deeply saddened to hear of Keith’s passing. Keith influenced so many of us and I personally took great joy from receiving his daily messages about education, coaching and analysis. He taught me so much about the importance of reflection and it is at this time that I will think about the impact that he has had on so many people. This included the students and colleagues that he worked with at Cardiff Met (UWIC). A true gentleman who will be greatly missed.

  3. Sincere condolences to the family. There are many heartbroken people in Cardiff and elsewhere. From chats in the early days with Keith and Alec Evans, to providing an interview for my PhD through to the recent times where he opened my eyes to the possibilities of creative education with every chat we had – my sincere thanks. You would not meet a more ethically grounded, intelligent and kind hearted person – Keith’s legacy will live on through those he mentored, taught and just listened to – the next generation of Performance Analysts and educators will understand and appreciate his pioneering influence. RIP my friend.

  4. So sad to hear this news. Keith was a mentor to me from way back in our days in Cardiff and had a massive influence throughout the sports tech world. My kindest regards to his family. RIP

  5. Dear the Lyon’s family. My sincere condolences to you all. I met Keith later in my life, and only wish it had been sooner. He was one of a kind, and his interaction with my young son at the time will last long in my own and my wife’s memory. I will be paying my condolences from here in England at the time of the funeral out of respect. Best wishes. David

  6. Very sad to hear this news. Keith had a positive impact on so many people across the sport sector. He was a great mentor, supporter and friend to me and so many people. A special person who will be greatly missed. Sending my condolences to family & friends.

  7. Vale Keith Lyons – During my time working at the University of Canberra 2011-2013, I met and engaged with you on ideas for innovation in football (world game) through governance reforms and stakeholder engagement in Australia. We found many synergies of thinking and I enjoyed your pushing back the boundaries approach, backed by evidence of what works and can be adapted from such learnings. Although saddened by your death, there is a rich legacy you leave and indelible positive influences on so many who had the fortunate of brushing with you in life. My condolences and sympathies to your family, friends and colleagues. Thank you Keith.

  8. There are few people in this life who are destined to leave an unforgettable and striking impression on those they meet, but Keith was one such person. I was fortunate enough to work alongside Keith in a variety of areas in Cardiff Met (UWIC) for a number of years, and his kind, good humoured and generous intellect left a lasting impression on all those he encountered. My thoughts are with his family. RIP Keith.

  9. Keith, you were one of those people who gave so much of yourself to helping others. So much of who I am came from the time I spent with you, and your advice during challenges.

  10. My sincere condolences to Sue and the family. I was so saddened to hear the news about Keith’s passing away. He was a truly special man who I remember with great fondness! He gave me my first job opportunity after my masters in Cardiff. It was such a pleasure to work for and with him. His kindness, support, encouragement and understanding meant a great deal to me and I will forever be grateful.

  11. Dear Sue andLyons Family. The impact Keith had on myself and my family was huge. His ability to converse and engage people of all ages was a remarkable skill. My boys Ben and Peter were convinced that he was the brainiest man that has ever lived. They were transfixed by his tales when we used to sit on a park bench in Richmond and he would tell them with forensic evidence about who had sat here before them.. his ability to make everyone feel special that he met was remarkable. His support and care for me individually it’s something I will never forget and cherish every conversation we had.
    RIP My very special friend

  12. To all the family my sincere condolences. Keith was such a warm and welcoming man. I only had the pleasure of meeting him once in person but like so many have said here he was great at keeping in touch and very encouraging of analysts all over the world. He will be sadly missed. RIP

  13. My sincere condolences to the family. Keith was an pioneer and innovator in our industry. He challenged conventional thinking and made people around him better. I am very grateful for the time spent with him and for the information he shared. He is a huge loss to society. RIP Keith.

  14. So sad to hear of Keith’s passing. Sincere condolences to your whole family. Lovely memories of times in London & back in Wales. Such a lovely, kind, caring & motivating person.

  15. Keith Lyons, a lion in many places, most recently in Braidwood NSW where he and Sue made contributions to many community organisations – all inspired by their desire to support individuals achieve their best. Keith’s quiet, wise, and humorous presence lives on and will be long remembered. His generosity and great kindness remains an inspiration. Our thoughts are with Sue and all their family, Barry and Virginia Hooker

  16. I met Keith through my association with Sue at BCPE (Bedford PE) and was immediately taken with his knowledge, dedication to helping others, passion for sport, and his gentle humour. As a family man he was one of the very best, I know that for sure. Reading his obituary, and the fantastic comments sent by a deluge of admirers, I can only say what he accomplished in his life will never be forgotten. Most of us would make do with just a fraction of that.
    Thoughts are with you Sue, Beth, and Sam.
    Liz R

  17. Keith was a wonderful person – generous at every level and in all ways. He was a free thinker but also humble and wanted to share his infectious enthusiasm for knowledge. He had a passion for developing sport – whether you were a player, a coach, an analyst or an enthusiastic supporter. Keith was interested in many sports and gave generously to those less financially endowed. His support to lacrosse over the years has been significant, both directly with Welsh Lacrosse at the World Cup in 1997 but also over many years before this, supporting Sue’s own enormous contribution to the sport. I’ve been privileged to know Keith and Sue from early days at St Mary’s Twickenham through to joining Cardiff Met (UWIC). My heart felt wishes go to Sue and the family.

  18. Keith was one of the kindest and wisest people I have ever met and an inspiration to educators such as myself in higher education. I am ever grateful for his mentoring and will never forget the times we spent discussing pedagogy and philosophy together.

  19. Vale Keith.Thank you Sue, Beth, Sam, Harriet, Jonno, Ivy, and Jolyon for inviting us to share Keith’s funeral. I will soon finish the PhD that we started together, Keith. Your enduring faith in me has been a true gift. You were the finest of men. You continue to be. Rest well.

  20. A colleague and friend, Gareth Newman, taught Keith at Alun Grammar School, Mold, and was the first to introduce him to rugby. I taught his brother and sister at nearby Elfed High School.
    All three of us subsequently played for Ruthin Rugby Club, where he was an extremely fast and skillful winger, also representing North Wales with distinction. At Cardiff College of Education he developed as one of the very first rugby sports analysts in Wales, a field which he pioneered and developed in many sports throughout his life. But more than that, he was one of the nicest, most gentlemanly and honourable people that both of us have ever met, and I was delighted to re-establish contact with him only a few years ago. Gareth and I, both now resident in Cardiff, are so sad that he has departed this life, far too soon, and send our deepest sympathy to his family. Not seen for many years, but never forgotten, anywhere in Welsh rugby and particularly in Ruthin and North Wales

  21. I was a school friend of Keith at the Alun School in Mold, north Wales and saw play for North Wales against Tonga and for London Welsh, where we had a beer in the bar afterwards…. Picked up on his sad passing through reading an article in ‘IC Wales’ and thence a long Wikipedia entry about a remarkably full life. Final twist is his passing in Canberra – I too live in Australia and my wife is from Canberra. Many entries here comment on a wise and compassionate man. Even though my memories are of a long time past I was saddened to hear this news and pass on condolences to his family.

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