Steve Lismore, a dedicated civil servant, Labour councillor, and passionate advocate for children and disability employment, has died at the age of 71 in a climbing accident in Italy. His energy and commitment left a lasting impact across north Derbyshire.
Early Life and Education
Born in Toronto, Canada, to Violet (nee Greaves), a secretary, and Basil Lismore, a toolmaker, Steve excelled at Bayview Heights school in Ontario, skipping a grade and winning awards at science fairs. His love for reading and ingenuity were evident early on.
His teenage years shaped his approach to life: he combined adventure, practicality, and resourcefulness, coaxing cheap motorbikes to ever-improved performance. His bond with his sisters, Lydia and Carolyn, was forged through childhood difficulties with an alcoholic father and a mother dealing with anxiety. This experience made him an encouraging presence to nearly everyone he met.
Career and Contributions
After graduating from York University in Toronto, he moved permanently to the UK in 1978 to pursue a master’s degree in English literature at Aberystwyth University. There, he met Jenie Thompson, whom he married in 1982. They lived in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, before separating in 2009 and divorcing three years later.
Steve held several leading roles at Touchstone Community Development, a charity in Chesterfield dedicated to helping young people and children get the best start in life through training, education, and nursery provision. As chief executive, he provided leadership, secured funding, established projects, and took a personal interest in each trainee. Thousands of children and young people in Chesterfield have been helped by Touchstone, and he remained a trustee until his death.
In 2009, he joined the Department for Work and Pensions as senior policy adviser on disability employment. He led the team that published the Buckland review of autism employment to acclaim in 2024, and was committed to ensuring the review led to practical change.
Steve met his partner, the writer of this obituary, in 2019 when both were seconded to the Department of Health and Social Care to support the social care directorate in preparing for the potential impact of a no-deal Brexit.
Community and Political Involvement
Steve was a school governor and involved in many other projects, including Citizens Advice, Chesterfield theatre, and Transition Chesterfield, a community action group. He served as a Labour councillor, most recently as cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Chesterfield council.
Personal Life and Legacy
Steve was enthusiastic, inventive, and active to the end of his life. He is survived by his partner, his children James, Robin, Rosalinde, and Simon from his marriage to Jenie, four grandchildren—Abigail, Dausewell, Leonora, and Isabella—and his sisters.
His legacy lives on through the thousands of lives he touched in Chesterfield and beyond, through his work in employment equality and early childhood support.
