We are very sad to report that Peter Lyddon, former Chapter Steward of York Minster, died on Wednesday 7th October.
Following a full career in the Army, Peter joined York Minster in 1996, initially as Chapter Clerk (as the Senior Lay Adviser to the Minster’s governing body was then known) before subsequently being appointed as the Minster’s first Chapter Steward in May 2000, leading the Minster’s lay staff for a total of ten years until he retired in 2006. Peter also served on the Minster’s governing body as a Lay Canon (Prebendary of Masham) and Lay Member of Chapter from May 2000 until he retired in 2006.
In the wider Cathedral world, Peter played a pivotal role in the creation and development of The Cathedrals’ Workshop Fellowship, working as its unpaid Administrator from the inception of the initiative in 2006 until 2012 to enable Apprentices from its eight member Cathedrals to be trained on specialist degree-level Stonemasonry courses accredited by the University of Gloucestershire.
Peter maintained close links with the Minster in what was, characteristically, a very active retirement, both as a regular worshipper and an enthusiastic member of the Minster Community. He served for many years as a Voluntary Guides, and kindly came out of retirement to assist the Precentor and a small Working Group in coordinating the complex practical arrangements for the Royal Maundy that was held in the Minster during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year in 2012.
It was as Major Lyddon (The Royal Green Jackets) that Peter was awarded the military MBE in December 1979 in recognition of distinguished service in Northern Ireland during the summer of 1979.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Peter’s widow Nicky and all of their family.
A Memorial and Thanksgiving Service will be held at 2.00pm on Wednesday 21 October in the Quire of York Minster, following a private family Funeral and Cremation earlier in the day.