Ron Steel 

9th January 1933 – 12th January 2014

Ron Steel was probably the first college lecturer appointed to teach swimming pool and recreation management in the UK. He was formerly employed by Lewisham Borough Council before taking up his role at the South East London Technical College.

Ron passed away in hospital after a short illness on Sunday 12th January 2014, 3 days after his 81st birthday. Until more recently, he spent much of his time visiting Croydon Library and planning his food shopping around a rota of supermarkets where he had located a variety of checkout operators, mainly from Eastern Europe upon whom he could practice his linguistic skills, a different language for every day of the week.

All who knew him remember him as a private, independent but friendly gentleman with a dry sense of humour, who could still become animated if conversation strayed towards politics or the current condition of Heart of Midlothian FC and enjoyed exchanging calls, notes and cards with old friends and colleagues.

We will always remember Ron…….

Anita Cacchioli

Ron Steele a man who influenced so many who went on to have successful careers in the leisure industry. We looked forward to his classes.  He imparted his vast knowledge with good humour, challenged us to consider our values and walked the talk when it came to his own, rewarded effort with Green Shield stamps, intrigued us with his knowledge of languages and puzzled us with his cryptic crosswords and “Swing that lamp” prepared us for a journey back in time. Ron’s journey has come to an end but his legacy lives on in each and every one of his students. RIP

Bernie Searle

I will always remember Ron (swing that lamp) with great affection, as he was a remarkable man and truly was a legend. We will all remember his humour, as it was one of his key attributes but it was also his skill and assiduity as a top lecturer which helped so many of us get through SELTEC and out the other side, as fully fledged young IBRM/ISRM Professionals.

Nick Cave

Sorry to hear this news. He was certainly a one off who influenced so many careers.

Geoff Caine

I am very sorry to hear that news. What a man, what a legend, always called me Marti (as in Caine) I learned and laughed a lot, a man I was privileged to know. He will always be with me. Miss you Mr. Steel…Hissssss

Dr John Beaumont-Kerridge

Very sad. Ron must have influenced so many and so well across the UK leisure management sector. He certainly enabled a change in the direction of my career which would otherwise almost certainly not been possible, and to meet many of the colleagues on this list.   RIP Ron.

John Swanson

The passing of a legend, he will be sadly missed and particularly from us old SELTEC boys and girls.

Julian Leybourne

I only met Ron once at a National Conference and remember very clearly his quiet humility, warmth and genuine interest he had for ‘youngsters’ like me and my fellow colleagues like Phil, Jill and Anita.  He reminded me a bit of my own father and he gave a priceless gift which was his ‘time’ for others to develop their knowledge and skills. Judging from the many emails and comments that have been sent, I think Mark’s words were quite profound in that “he was one of us”.

I hope with rising expectation that the new organisation will embrace the principles of the old in that comradeship and fellowship are two important principles that sadly we didn’t get to see too much of in the first two years and we have also missed the social side which were important landscapes to develop long-lasting friendships and the email addresses reminds me how many we have lost touch with in recent years. If Ron is sending us a message today, it is that we are on this journey together and the support we give to each other will set us apart from other Institutes. The rising stars of the future need to be inspired by people who stand out and who are outstanding like our good friend Ron Steele. Best wishes to all and RIP Ron

Kevin Franklin

As others have said a legend .May he rest in peace

Liam Higgins

Ron was a great character and was my mentor when I worked with him at SELTEC back in the late eighties.  I will miss him.

Mark Sesnan

Ron was one of us through and through. His legacy will go on.

Martin Havenhand

Sad news indeed.  A lovely letter from his landlord who also seemed to be a good friend.

Neil Farmer

Thank you for letting me know. Many of us have a lot to thank Ron for.

Paul Daley

So sad to hear about Ron, he was a legend, so intelligent and had a dry sense of humour.  He had a hand in starting so many people’s career in leisure. He’ll be missed by so many.

Paul Hackett

Sad day indeed, he was a major influence on my working life. Like many others I was also a student of Ron’s, he called me scouse up until 3 or 4 years ago when he realised I was from the Wirral and I became woolyback when he wrote to me. Some of his lecture notes live on in material I and others have written in the past 20 years or so.

Peter Crowley

Like so many of us who went through SELTEC , where Ron was so Instrumental with our career paths, I will be forever grateful for his help and advice and influence on me .

Pete Robinson

As others have already said we will all remember him fondly especially as we were all starting our careers

Peter Sharkey

I hope Ron passed away knowing just how influential he had been on so many careers within the leisure industry. A true gentleman and professional and a man who never asked for anything in return. He will be long remembered by so many. Rest in peace Ron – You touched so many lives during your own.

Pauline Lawrence

RIP Ron, A sad day and the end of an era. Ron played a huge part in developing my career path and became a great friend and mentor post SELTEC.  His legacy and influence lives on through the hundreds of students who passed through his courses.

David Kerrigan

That is sad news – RIP Ron

David Batchelor

Sad news … I am sure there will many tributes. A truly amazing man and how many of us did he help over the years. RIP Ron

Jill Franks

Very sad news.  I for one am indebted to Ron for the part he played early on in my career. Not to mention the start of my green shield stamp collection!  RIP Ron

Joyce Guthrie

Very sad news, so many of us owe our career paths to him, fond memories of Christmas cracker jokes and green shield stamps! RIP Ron

Hazel Aitken

Very sad news indeed, he was a true gent, an immense influence in the lives and careers of both mine and many others in the industry, and will be greatly missed. RIP x

Ken Dunbar

The passing of a legend, who was too humble to realise the huge impact he had on so many lives. I can only echo the heartfelt feelings. RIP Ron

Ken Phillips

A great man, a friend and so much more to so many!! A sad loss to the industry!!

Kevin Harkin

Very sad news. He leaves me memories that make me smile. RIP Ron

Michelle Davies

Am sure we all have fond memories. Sometimes words just don’t cut it

Marc Newey

Ron was a legend in the IBRM/ISRM/CIMSPA Southern Region teaching the Membership and Diploma membership exams at SELTEC and Lewisham College as it became known. Ron had a wicked sense of humour and strong opinions in the classroom but was a very modest and shy man outside of it. He guided many ISRM/CIMSPA members through their studies and exams knowing exactly how to ensure each individual could fulfil their potential. I remember presenting him with the first Southern Region Branch Service Award in 1997, huge turnout and a devil of a job to persuade him to turn up and accept it. He did so on the condition he brought his own lunch as ever! Many leading lights in the leisure business today owe a huge debt of gratitude to Ron Steel as does CIMSPA as Ron, with often limited resources, but with the help of Geoff Budworth, Liam Higgins and others produced some of the finest managers in Local Authority Leisure today.  RIP Ron.

John Wileman

Really sad news

Ian Morey

Best teacher/lecturer/joke teller I ever had! I received an award at SELTEC after I had done my ISRM Diploma. Ron persuaded me to tell a joke that he thought would be appropriate for the acceptance speech on behalf of all the students. I felt I couldn’t let him down, although I didn’t really want to do it. Got through it but it wasn’t as good as if it had come from Ron!

Sheridan Easton

What a legend of a man and teacher! I will miss him and his Green Shield Stamp rewards!

Kilian Fisher

Ron a true Gentleman and inspiration to those of us who had the privilege to attend SELTEC/ Lewisham College. May he rest in peace. RIP

Carl Evans

I have many wonderful memories of Ron. He was I believe, the first person to be employed as a lecturer teaching the subject of baths management and then recreation management. I had the privilege to be in his first block release course at SELTEC. Ron always inspired confidence and demonstrated a professionalism that underpinned everything that I came to know was and is the Institute. I have often thought about those early days and more recently with the passing of my old colleagues, Harry Hitchin and Noel Winter, I have come to appreciate the essence of their generosity and of the generosity of the many colleagues that supported others to progress in their careers. It was these people, and some of you that are reading this, that inspired me and others to teach and to share ideas and work to continue the spirit of the founders of the Institute. Organisations come and go, but it is the people that give of their time, their commitment and their inspiration that creates the memories we all share. I respected and cherished Ron for his quirky nature, his sense of mystery, that spark of mischief in his eyes, his charm, dedication, brilliance and his commitment to simply share with others his knowledge and time so that many could achieve more.

Graham Newing

Ron was certainly not your typical college lecturer. His humour greatly assisted in getting the message across during his sessions. It was a very long time ago when I attended SELTC, back in the late 1970’s. I quite expected him to publish a book with his vast knowledge of the industry.

Ian Wakefield

RIP Ron, a man who helped shape the Leisure Industry, a sad loss

Geoff Derby

RIP an icon, a legend, he contributed so much to so many, and will be missed

Michele Baker-Caton

Ron was a major influence on me “Swing that lamp” having hated school he showed learning could be interesting, productive and fun starting with Seltec’s short courses then moving on to Membership and Diploma. Changing what was to be a temporary stop gap as a lifeguard into a great enjoyable career. Thanks Ron

Yanek Kowal

Sadly missed a great teacher and inspirational man. Taught me in the early 1970s’ provide a great start to a number of trainee managers. Happy days!

Mike Smith

Met him in the early 80’s when I worked at Crystal Palace and started my ISRM courses with what a good man