Paul Lyall Obituary

Philip Lewis MBE, President of British Para Table Tennis has advised of the news that Paul Lyall sadly died on the 24th December 2021, aged 77.

Paul was one of the British legends of the early years of the Paralympic Games. Having been paralysed after an accident in 1960, he was classified as a para table tennis player. In 1964, he competed in the Paralympic Games in Tokyo, winning gold in the Men’s Singles, Class B competition, beating Romero of Argentina in the final. He also won bronze in the Men’s Doubles, Class B competition, partnered by Hugh Stewart.

In 1966, Paul competed in the Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica. He won gold in the Men’s Singles, Class 2 event and also won a second gold in the Men’s Doubles, Class 2 event, partnered by Philip Lewis MBE.

Here Paul Lyall, pictured on the left and Philip Lewis MBE were watched on by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Charles. The photograph kindly provided by Philip will appear in Table Tennis England’s Centenary Book due to be published in March 2022.

In 1968, Paul took part in his second Paralympic Games in Tel Aviv, winning gold again in Men’s Singles, Class B and this time, silver in the Men’s Doubles, Class B event, partnered by George Monaghan.

Paul's final Paralympic Games was in 1972 in Heidelberg, where he won bronze in Men’s Singles, Class 4 and another bronze in the Men’s Class 4 Team event with Neil McDonald. In the singles, he was defeated by Mike Dempsey of the USA. After this event, Paul retired from national and international table tennis.

Philip has paid tribute to Paul who lived in Ruislip, Middlesex where his funeral will be held on Thursday 27th January 2022, 1.15pm at Breakspear Crematorium.

British Para Table Tennis (BPTT) has sent their condolences to his widow Sally and their family. A donation has been made by BPTT to the Stoke Mandeville Spinal Injuries Unit to support spinal injury patients in their rehabilitation. A charitable cause requested by the family.

Mike Smith