Paul Lyall, one of the pioneers of para table tennis in Great Britain and a Paralympic gold medallist, has died at the age of 77.

Paul was one of the British legends of the early years of the Paralympic Games. Having been paralysed after an accident in 1960, he was classified as a table tennis player.

In 1964, he competed in the Paralympic Games in Tokyo winning gold in the Men’s Singles Class B competition, beating Romero of Argentina in the final. He also won bronze in the Men’s Doubles Class B competition, partnered by Hugh Stewart MacKenzie.

In 1966, Paul played in the Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica. He won gold in the Men’s Singles Class 2 and, partnered by current British Para Table Tennis President Philip Lewis MBE, won the Men’s Doubles Class 2.

The photograph on this page of Paul and Philip playing at this event, watched by Prince Philip and Prince Charles, will appear in the Table Tennis England Centenary Book due to be published in March.

In 1968, Paul played in his second Paralympic Games in Tel Aviv, again winning gold in Men’s Singles Class B and this time silver in the Men’s Doubles Class B, partnered by George Monaghon.

Paul’s final Paralympic Games was in 1972 in Heidelberg where he won bronze in Men’s Singles Class 4 and bronze in Men’s Team Class 4 with Neil Mc Donald.

Paul, who lived in Middlesex, died on Christmas Eve. All at British Para Table Tennis and at Table Tennis England send condolences to his widow Sally and their family.