A TRIBUTE TO A CARDIFF ICON
DEDICATED TO DILYS
Cardiff has lost a legend, and tributes have been pouring in, so we dedicate these pages to the late, great Dilys Price OBE By Lisa Evans Be kind, be tender Be positive Life is for living Keep active
And dance to sweet music Be happy, have fun Give Keep the faith
The above is a succinct message for life written recently by the Cardiff legend Dilys Price OBE – the world’s oldest skydiver, the founder of the Touch Trust and someone who had so much enthusiasm and zest for living. She passed away on 9 October at the age of 88 and tributes celebrating her life came pouring in; we wanted to share them on these pages...
DILYS’S BEST BITS Skydiving
Dilys completed 1,139 solo skydives, including one aged 81 in 2013 which saw her become the oldest ever female skydiver. “We had the privilege of working with Dilys on a BBC production alongside Gareth Thomas and the Silver Skydivers in a bid to encourage people to take on new adventures, regardless of age,” says Sara Williams at Skydive Swansea.
Touch Trust
WORDS OF HONOUR
Here, just a handful of the thousands of people whose lives Dilys touched in one way or another share their memories…
Dilys’s family
“Dilys died peacefully after a short illness. Mum/Mamgu was calm and joyous throughout the time of her passing and always made clear to everyone that she was happy and at peace. Dilys was an inspirational person whose belief in love, compassion and service to others remained true right up until the end. Her family want to thank all her many friends for the support they gave Dilys and would like everyone to commemorate her passing with joyous thoughts and positive deeds.”
Marion Murray A lifelong friend
“See you later, alligator. We must not regret Dilys’s passing; she had a wonderful life. She was joy. I looked out of my window the day she died and there was a rainbow that ended over where she lived. She was a rainbow person; she once skydived through a rainbow, she loved that.”
Mavis Burris
Sharing the story of the start of Touch Trust...
She was awarded an OBE for services to people with special needs; she received a lifetime achiever award at the National Diversity Ceremony; and she was honoured with a Pride of Britain award.
“Memories come flooding back circa 1996 when Dilys arrived on the scene where S.T.E.P (Services to Enable People) were based. Here we came together for various activities supporting people with disabilities. “Dilys came to introduce us to her unique creative movement programme, bringing with her an eclectic variety of percussion instruments, bells, brightly coloured scarves, an amazing parachute, bags of energy and a huge amount of compassion. “It became apparent after several sessions with Dilys how beneficial this experience was becoming to the members of our group. It was very evident, especially in people with severe behavioural problems, of how much calmer, relaxed and happier they were after a session. The idea of forming a charity was founded and eventually the Touch Trust was registered as a charity, with Dilys at the helm, in 2000.”
Modelling
Sara Williams
Motto
“It all began 20 years ago in a skydive centre in England. The sound of laughter could be heard in the distance emanating from a lady who was surrounded by a group of skydivers, seemingly entranced by her every word. Little did I know how much that first burst of laughter would go on to have such an impact on my life, and the lives of many others. “For most people, the sight of a tiny-framed, white-haired lady at
This is her legacy; she founded Touch Trust, a creative movement therapy programme for those with complex needs, in 1996, and it became a registered charity in 2000. Dilys, an art of movement and dance specialist taught by Rudolph Laban, pioneered the programme, which aims to activate all the senses to establish a sense of worth and enjoyment. Details of the charity can be found at the end of this feature if you wish to donate or find out more about its future in these tough times.
Unforgettable moments
She became the face of luxury fashion brand Helmut Lang when she was 86. The label challenged ageist stereotypes and invited mature women to front its campaign. “Feel the fear and do it anyway.”
10 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Skydive Swansea
