07/05/2026
Everyone at the Village Hall is saddened to hear of the passing of Derek Lyes
As many of you will know, Derek was born in Dumbleton and remained a resident all his life – only being away from the village while serving his country in the Royal Navy
He and his wife, Annette, raised their family in Dumbleton and both were a big part of village life. The untimely passing of Annette didn’t stop Derek from remaining at the heart of the village and he became well known for regularly outpacing much younger residents as he walked around Dumbleton and the hill
All those who met Derek knew he was one of the kindest, gentlest and most generous people they had the privilege to know. He was, in every sense, a true gentleman
He was also an incredibly accomplished and wholly self-taught artist. Many residents in the parish have fantastic portraits, particularly of their pets, hanging in their homes that show Derek’s talent. Modest as always, he never acknowledged how good an artist he was and was always concerned that he “could’ve done it better”
In later years, the Village Hall was lucky to be part of Derek’s life as he was a regular attendee at the Pop-Up Cafés. When we celebrated our 125th anniversary in 2024, we were deeply honoured that he agreed to create a special anniversary picture of the Hall and were delighted that he was celebrated in the local press for his wonderful artwork
The Village Hall sends its condolences to all of Derek’s family including his siblings, Polly and Brian. We will always remember his stories of village life, his unending love for Dumbleton and for his family.
Rest in peace, Derek
