He was engineer-in-chief to the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board from 1898,[2] when he succeeded his father, George Fosbery Lyster, until his retirement from that role in 1913, when he was honoured with the presidency of the Institution of Civil Engineers,[3] and joined the firm of Sir John Wolfe Barry and Partners.

[2] After his pupilage, he spent time at the firm of Sir W G Armstrong and Company in Newcastle before returning to Liverpool where from 1877 he was in charge of the construction of the north and south dock extension.

[2] In 1890, he was appointed Acting Engineer-in-Chief to the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board undertaking significant works to a value of £3.5 million over the next eight years.

[2] Lyster was elected a full member of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1882, and joined its Council in 1904.

[2] On 3 December 1892, he married Frances Laura Arabella, former wife of the explorer and author Harry de Windt, and sister of the 1st Viscount Long of Wraxall.

Lyster died at 10 Gloucester Gate, Regent's Park, London, on 17 March 1920, and was buried at Bradenham, near High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.