Born in Toronto, Canada, Steve passed away in Cogne, Italy, following an accident on a winter climbing trip, aged 71. After moving to Aberystwyth in 1978 for university, he arrived in Old Whittington in 1983 with his then wife Jenifer. A Labour borough councillor for the Staveley North ward, he served as cabinet member for health and wellbeing, and led a range of services from community safety to parks and open spaces, and sport and leisure, with great passion and commitment. Prior to this, he worked for many years as a civil servant at the Department for Work and Pensions and was instrumental in programmes helping adults with autism to find employment. He was also the chief executive of the charity Touchstone, which worked to reduce poverty and deprivation and support to people from disadvantaged social backgrounds. A man of many interests, he loved gardening, grew a huge array of vegetables in his greenhouses, and turned his hand to many DIY projects. He loved adventures too, as an avid climber and hiker, alongside restoring and touring classic cars and motorbikes. But most of all he enjoyed spending time with friends and family and adored being a grandad. Steve leaves behind his partner Sue, children James, Robin, Rosalinde and Simon, and his four grandchildren. The funeral service takes place on Monday, March 23, 1pm, at St Bartholomew’s Church, Old Whittington. Read more at https://tinyurl.com/StephenLismore.placeholder image
Born in Toronto, Canada, Steve passed away in Cogne, Italy, following an accident on a winter climbing trip, aged 71. After moving to Aberystwyth in 1978 for university, he arrived in Old Whittington in 1983 with his then wife Jenifer. A Labour borough councillor for the Staveley North ward, he served as cabinet member for health and wellbeing, and led a range of services from community safety to parks and open spaces, and sport and leisure, with great passion and commitment. Prior to this, he worked for many years as a civil servant at the Department for Work and Pensions and was instrumental in programmes helping adults with autism to find employment. He was also the chief executive of the charity Touchstone, which worked to reduce poverty and deprivation and support to people from disadvantaged social backgrounds. A man of many interests, he loved gardening, grew a huge array of vegetables in his greenhouses, and turned his hand to many DIY projects. He loved adventures too, as an avid climber and hiker, alongside restoring and touring classic cars and motorbikes. But most of all he enjoyed spending time with friends and family and adored being a grandad. Steve leaves behind his partner Sue, children James, Robin, Rosalinde and Simon, and his four grandchildren. The funeral service takes place on Monday, March 23, 1pm, at St Bartholomew’s Church, Old Whittington. Read more at https://tinyurl.com/StephenLismore.

Faces to remember: the lost loved ones among Derbyshire Times death notices this week

By Ed Dingwall
Published 13th Mar 2026, 15:04 GMT

Every day, Derbyshire residents say their final farewells to family members, friends, colleagues, neighbours and many other characters who have played a unique part in local life.

Some may be more well known than others, but all had a place in someone’s heart and in our communities.

Here we make space to recognise those whose deaths have been announced in the pages of the Derbyshire Times this week.

For more details on how they will be remembered, including funeral arrangements, and how to leave your own tributes, go to legacy.com/uk/obituaries/derbyshiretimes-uk/browse.

Born in Staveley and a lifelong local resident, Dennis passed away at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, aged 89. He began his career as a train driver, then left the rails to become postal worker and finally a British Telecom engineer. On days off he enjoyed coarse fishing, steam trains, trips to his static caravan at Skegness and spending time with family. Predeceased by wife Barbara in 2019, and sons Gary and Paul, Dennis leaves stepchildren Philip, Barbara, Paul and Jane, five grandchildren Benjamin, Glen, Liam, Jordan, Curtis, seven step grandchildren, one great-grandson, seven step great-grandchildren, and one step great-great-grandson. Read more at https://tinyurl.com/DennisBirchall.

13. Dennis Birchall, Brimington

Born in Staveley and a lifelong local resident, Dennis passed away at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, aged 89. He began his career as a train driver, then left the rails to become postal worker and finally a British Telecom engineer. On days off he enjoyed coarse fishing, steam trains, trips to his static caravan at Skegness and spending time with family. Predeceased by wife Barbara in 2019, and sons Gary and Paul, Dennis leaves stepchildren Philip, Barbara, Paul and Jane, five grandchildren Benjamin, Glen, Liam, Jordan, Curtis, seven step grandchildren, one great-grandson, seven step great-grandchildren, and one step great-great-grandson. Read more at https://tinyurl.com/DennisBirchall. Photo: Contributed

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