Tom Hyde sadly passed away on 18th March, aged 84. Born in Canton, Cardiff and latterly of Barrie, Ontario, Canada. A dedicated family man, he leaves his loving wife Janet, three sons Stephen, Nick (Jennifer) and David (Nancy) and grandchildren Jessica, Vivian, Shelia and Linda. Tom is predeceased by his loving parents John and Ellen (Fox).
Tom was a lifelong Cardiff Rugby man and in his younger days was an active and successful sportsman in his own right. As a teenager he became the youngest on record to play rugby in the Mallet Cup final, playing at Cardiff Arms Park at just 17 years of age. After this he joined the Royal Air Force for his national service, completing a total of five years service during which time he was stationed in both the UK and Germany and from which he developed several lifelong friendships. Always the natural sportsman, he went on to play rugby and boxed for the RAF, becoming European Forces boxing champion in the Welterweight Division. He was also a keen cricketer. It was during his national service, when stationed in Berkshire, England, that he met and fell in love with Janet. In May 2020, they celebrated 60 years of marriage!
Tom was also dedicated member of the congregation at St. Mary's Church in Cardiff, Wales, where he and Janet were married and where he and two of his three sons would be christened. David, his youngest son, would keep the family tradition alive when in 1997 he and Nancy would marry in the same church.
Tom and Janet moved to Canada in 2015 when Tom was 79 years young. He immediately became an enthusiastic attendee and volunteer at Holy Spirit Parish in Barrie, and never lost his sense of wonder at the beauty of the local landscape. Kempenfelt Bay and the towns of Parry Sound and Creemore were particular favourites of his.
Funeral service to be held in Ontario at 2pm on Tuesday March 23rd at Holy Spirit Parish, 650 Essa Road in Barrie, followed by an interment of his ashes in Cardiff at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory are welcome to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, for whom he was an active and long time member: https://ssvp.on.ca/en/donations.php