Statement | 10 October, 2021
Cardiff Metropolitan University is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Honorary Fellow Dilys Price OBE.
Dilys taught Human Movement Studies and Dance Studies at Cardiff Met and was appointed an OBE in 2003 for services to people with special needs. Dilys won the UK Lifetime Achiever Award in 2014 and held the Guinness World Record for the Oldest Female Sky Diver.
Interim Deputy Dean at Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Huw Wiltshire was taught by Dilys at what was then Cardiff College of Education in 1982 and later taught alongside her.
He said: "Dilys was quite simply an exceptional person who possessed a quite unique skills set. She led by example throughout her life but always had time to listen, support and guide others.
"Dilys was creative, innovative, compassionate, and energetic with the most wonderful sense of humour. A gifted and special person who epitomised the values of Cardiff Metropolitan University, she ultimately spent her life making others feel valued and recognised.
"This is a long life, well lived, and as such should be celebrated fully."
Chair of the Board of Governors, Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, issued the following statement:
"It is with great sadness that we learned of the death of our previous staff member and Honorary Fellow, Dilys Price OBE. She won the UK Lifetime Achiever Award in 2014. She held the Guinness World Record for the 'Oldest Female Sky Diver' when, at age 82, she had completed 1,120 jumps. Her amazing jumps have raised many tens of thousands of pounds for charity.
"Dilys was a senior lecturer at Cardiff Metropolitan University, working on the Human Movement Studies Degree courses and was responsible for Dance Studies. She was part of the team which founded and built the innovative and forward-looking Wales Sports Centre for the Disabled (1996) which trained elite able and disabled athletes together (outside the then traditional medical setting). She ran the first Special Olympics events and Play to Grow Clubs in Wales. She was a founder member of the Wales Sports Association for Special Needs and was a consultant for movement activities for a variety of additional needs.
"She founded the charity the Touch Trust charity from her kitchen in Cardiff, to provide stimulation and support for children and people of all ages with a wide range of special needs, including profound and multiple disabilities. In 2003 she was awarded an OBE for services to people with special needs. Touch Trust became one of the seven Artistic Residents in the Wales Millennium Centre in 2004.
"Dilys Price’s work was recognised in many ways including being awarded the Inspire Wales Award for contribution to the Arts in Wales, two Lifetime Achievement awards from the National Diversity Awards and Wales Care Awards and a Special Recognition Award from Pride of Britain.
"Through her positive outlook, she worked tirelessly for a kinder, more generous inclusive world and her inspiration lives on in those who continue working towards this goal."
