Educated at Ilford County High School and Clark's College, Bromley, Lygo joined the Royal Navy at HMS St. Vincent (Fleet Air Arm basic training establishment in Gosport, Hampshire) in 1942 during the Second World War.

[2] While in command of the latter in 1971, the Ark Royal collided with a Soviet cruiser that was shadowing her during an exercise in the Mediterranean.

He was next appointed Director-General, Naval Manpower and Training from February 1974 to June 1975.

He went on to be Vice Chief of the Naval Staff in 1975,[1] was promoted to full admiral on 9 February 1977,[3] and retired in March 1978.

[6] In 1950, Lygo married Pepper Van Osten; they had two sons and one daughter.