Leslie Thomas HYLAND

Many happy memories of days in the late 1950s and early 1960's when I was one of a group of railfans, (members of the Irish Railway Record Society) that Leslie regularly brought to fascinating and often remote railway sites all over Ireland. He was always generous, warm hearted and an energetic enthusiast to a fault. To his wife and brothers I extend my deepest sympathy.

MEMORIES: I got to know Leslie through exploring the rivers and mountains of Ireland. A railway enthusiast, I remember being on a steam train in Scotland whilst he chased it in his Morris Minor careening around the narrow roads. He worked in a travel agency and liked nothing better than someone coming in with a challenging itinerary to places a lot of people had never even heard of. But then our good friends, the Stronachs, emigrated to Australia and glowing reports would come from the land Down Under. Let’s emigrate to Australia! And so in 1974 we set sail on the SS Australis and five weeks later arrived on Magnetic Island in tropical North Queensland, with a big welcome from the said Stronach family. I remember the first day the boys driving us all over the island telling us of all the things that could kill you in Australia! A couple of years later, after a trip to India travelling by train from the Himalayas to Ooty, I headed south to Melbourne and, the best thing that could have happened, Leslie met his soulmate Lynn, in the Townsville Bushwalkers and the rest is history. As well as Townsville they had a property in the misty upland rainforest of Paluma, Les and Lynn had such happy and fulfilling lives They travelled a lot over the years and did many good works with the Lions. The world is a better place because of them. In Paluma they will not be forgotten as they have a walking trail named after them. Sadly that Irish accent will no longer be heard ...

My sincere sympathy to Lynn, Cecil Alan and all the family on the death of Leslie RIP. I first met Leslie when I joined the IRRS as a teenager at a presentation in Limerick many years ago. He was always helpful in in answering my umpteen questions and gave me many magazines etc to satisfy my interests. May he rest in peace

I hereby send my deepest condolences to Lynn, and Leslie's family and friends in Ireland.
I got to know Les and Lynn through Adele, when I met them in Townsville in 1986.
Here they opened their home to two Danish backpackers, and gave us lots of security and experiences. We spent over two months in the town, and it is a time I will never forget.
Later, Les and Lynn visited me in Denmark in 2001, where I showed them one of Denmark's highest mountains 'Himmelbjerget', which is 147 meters high! We also went on a trip on a vintage train, to Les' great pleasure.
In 2017, my family and I had the pleasure of meeting Les and Lynn again in Ireland, where we also visited Alan and Daryl, as well as Adele.
I am so happy to know these two amazing people, and so happy that we managed to stay in touch over so many years. Thank you both.
Honor to Leslie's memory.

Deepest condolences to the Hyland family on the sad passing of Leslie , he was a gentleman and I had the pleasure of meeting him a few times.
May he Rest in Peace.

My condolences Alan on Leslie's death. May he rest in peace.

My deepest sympathy to Lynn, Cecil, Alan and families on Leslie's passing. He was one of nature's true gentlemen and I was so fortunate to have him as a dearly loved friend of over 50 years. He has left me with so many wonderful memories of times together in both Ireland and Australia. How I will miss those Thursday night phone chats when we talked about everything - including railways of course.
Rest in peace Les.

Deepest sympathies to Cecil, Dorothy and the extended families on the passing of Leslie

Really sorry to hear of Leslie's passing. My sincere condolences to his family and friends. He will be remembered for the wealth of material and photographs which he produced on Irish railways over the years.

I had the pleasure of meeting him a few times over the years on his visits to Ireland and I also met up with him in Australia.

May he Rest in Peace.

Deepest sympathy Lynn on the death of Leslie whom I knew for 63 years. In my early years of railway research on Rosslare, Leslie was most helpful. May he rest in peace.

So sorry to learn of Leslie's passing. I was always very impressed with his knowledge of all aspects of our shared interest in railways which he willingly shared.
My sincere sympathy to Lynn, Alan and Cecil and their families.

My deepest sympathy to Cecil and Leslie's family. Leslie had such an amazing knowledge of trains and train timetables all over the world. He organised so many holidays for people. May you all find strength and comfort at this sad time.

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Leslie, a true gentleman, who gave his time and shared his incredible knowledge & experience so generously with fellow rail enthusiasts.

To Alan and extended family I offer my deepest sympathy.

John C Dwyer

Our deepest sympathies to Alan and the Hyland family on the sad loss of your brother. May God grant you strength at this sorrowful time.

Fond memories of Leslie and deepest sympathy to his family and friends. We won't see his like again.

Sincere sympathy to Cecil and all the Hyland family on the death of Leslie.

Sympathy and condolences to Lynn, Alan and Cecil, the extended Hyland family, and all Les’s many friends in Ireland, Australia and elsewhere. In his Irish days, Les was a generous mentor to Junior Members of the Irish Railway Record Society, offering encouragement and support in what was perhaps a rather esoteric interest. More recently, Les shared his memories, still very sharp, and travel notes, to record a legendary day on the West Clare Railway in 1953, a line which was rather dear to both he and I.

It was a privilege to have enjoyed his friendship and enthusiasm for so very many years and while he will be very much missed, he will also be very much remembered for all those qualities that made him such a special person in life.

Michael J and Anne Walsh

Sympathy and prayers. Leslie's friendship and guidance set many of us on a well informed and deep and respectful interest in railways that has lasted a lifetime. He was such a nice and good person and friend.

My deepest condolences to Lynn in Townsville and to Cecil, Alan and their families in Ireland. May you rest in peace Les and thank you for a friendship lasting almost seventy years.

Deepest condolences to Lynn, Alan and all Leslie's family and friends at this sad time. May he Rest in Peace.

Cecil and Alan, we so sorry to hear about Leslie's passing, and are thinking about you both and Lynn at this sad time.
Greer and Rosemary.