A MAN well-known in the community for promoting outdoor activities for children has died.

Norman Lyon from Earlestown passed away on March 6 aged 84.

He had a passion for sailing and had inspired youngsters in the area to also take on similar outdoor activities.

His interest in the outdoors started when he returned from doing his national service with the army.

Since then, he became a prominent figure in Newton Scouts as he offered youths an opportunity to delve into outdoor activities.

Discussing his dad’s passion, Simon Lyon said: "He seemed to be determined to live his life his own way and he was very much into the outdoors.

"As a child, my first memories were of sailing.

St Helens Star: Norman pictured with sons Simon and Philip Norman pictured with sons Simon and Philip (Image: Simon Lyon)

"By the time I was 16, he had fitted down his own sailing boat and we sailed all over the Irish sea."

Norman became a leader for Newton Scouts in the 70s and soon introduced children from the community to outdoor activities.

58-year-old Simon added: "He introduced a lot of young lads to that outdoor lifestyle.

"The lads of Newton-le-Willows probably weren’t exposed to that thing if it weren’t for the scouts and my dad within the scouts.

St Helens Star: Norman had always had a passion for sailingNorman had always had a passion for sailing (Image: Simon Lyon)

"Along with all the things my dad did, getting youngsters into things that they might not have considered were available to them was inspiring."

Later in life, Norman, a dad of two, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

Donations at Norman’s funeral will be given to Alzheimer’s and RNLI.

For those who wish to attend, his funeral will be held at Lytham Crematorium on March 29 at 1:15pm, followed by a wake at the Ribble cruising club.

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