Rhys Parry

On 5 July, I lost my husband, soulmate, best friend and business partner, Rhys Parry.

Parkinson's may have taken him in the end, but it can never take away the legacy of his curiosity, vision, intellect or his love of technology and solving problems.

Rhys spent much of his career as a visionary electronics, aerospace and computing engineer, entrepreneur and educator. He was born in Glasgow but spent most of his childhood growing up with his extended family in Treorchy in the Rhondda Valley.

Although his father wanted him to become a BBC cameraman, Rhys had other ideas. Originally wanting to become a pilot, he discovered that his colour blindness meant his love of flying would need to be pursued through a different route. He completed the equivalent of a degree apprenticeship in electronic engineering at Loughborough University, sponsored by BAe Systems, where he worked on a number of defence and aerospace projects. A proud Welshman and staunch European, he later worked for organisations including Easams, the European Space Agency, Hewlett Packard and Intergraph, continuing to contribute to major defence and aerospace projects, including writing code for used in the Tornado aircraft.

Rhys and I met in the 1980s while we were both working for one of Europe's largest software companies, Systems Designers/SD-Scicon, where he led highly complex advanced technology projects, including managing the 110-person flight simulation division, working with a range of civil and military clients.

We went on to build a life, a family and a series of businesses together over four decades.

Together we developed a data software product, published the UK's first sales and marketing technology magazine and, more recently, set up and ran our own couples' escape-to-the-country Airbnb business in the heart of Wales, close to Cardigan Bay.

Rhys's third act was as a Teaching Fellow in the Department of Computer Science at Prifysgol Aberystwyth University, where he drew on his extensive professional knowledge and experience to inspire generations of students to pursue successful careers in technology and business. He had a remarkable ability to make complex things seem simple and took enormous pride in seeing his students go on to build successful careers of their own.

His retirement did nothing to diminish his intellectual curiosity. He went on to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations, again at Prifysgol Aberystwyth University, simply for the love of learning and a deep interest in understanding what causes conflict.

Away from his professional life, Rhys had a lifelong love of rugby. A passionate Welsh supporter through and through, he rarely missed an opportunity to cheer on his beloved Wales, both at home and away, even when we were losing. He devoted more than a decade to Aberystwyth University's Rugby Club as Club Secretary, taking great pride in supporting the university's teams and representing the club nationally at Welsh Rugby Union level.

Unsurprisingly for a Welshman, music was another lifelong passion. Rhys could often be found sitting at the piano, playing and composing his own music. One of his proudest moments came in 2025, when we sang together with the ParkinSings choir at the Senedd on World Parkinson's Day. It was a day we both treasured and one that will always hold a special place in my heart.

At the start of this year, Rhys began exploring the potential of AI to change the world as he worked on a science fiction novel, which he intended as a follow-on to his first book, D-Day June 6, 1944: A Concise Guide to the Normandy Landings, self-published in 2019.

He developed a love of France and all things French – the countryside, the culture, the food and the wine (and cognac!) – which deepened with every summer we spent there on family holidays and, later, as just the two of us after the children had flown the nest.

Talking of nests, his lifelong fascination with flight extended far beyond his professional career. Whether admiring aircraft or birdwatching wherever he went, he never lost his sense of wonder at the beauty of both mechanical and feathered flight.

Rhys had a wicked sense of humour to match the twinkle in his eye that you can see in his photograph. We spent many happy hours together at comedy gigs, particularly during the long Welsh winter months, laughing until our sides hurt - memories I will always cherish.

Above all else, Rhys was a devoted husband.

He was my greatest supporter and champion throughout my career and life. He encouraged me to establish my now award-winning coaching business, write two books, become a TEDx speaker and become President of the Career Development Institute and a NED. I simply would not have achieved those things without his unwavering belief in me.

He was also a father to three strong, talented, and caring grown-up children, a grandfather to two beautiful youngsters, and a doggy dad to his beloved dachshund, Barney.

He faced Parkinson's with remarkable courage, dignity and characteristic stoicism, rarely complaining and often hiding just how much he was coping with.

There are no words that can ever fully describe how much we all miss him.