BSc (Physiology) Manch 1968, MSc 1970, MB ChB 1972; FRCS Eng 1976.
Lye was born in Rochdale on 19 May 1947 and was educated at Bury Grammar School and the University of Manchester. After qualifying, Lye held resident appointments at MRI, he was registrar to Birmingham Children's Hospital and to the department of neurosurgery at MRI before being appointed senior registrar to the Institute of Neurological Sciences at the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow. Lye was later appointed senior lecturer and consultant to the department of neurosurgery at MRI. Lye was a member of MMS and the Brain Research Association.