Steve Hoar

Steve's love of history is down to the fact that his History teacher at Winton High School (Rob Howarth) was a dedicated and great teacher - in later life Steve and Rob became good friends and helped organise the School's reunion together.

Steve's family history goes further as his Grandfather (Walter Gelder) served in the 8th Army Desert Rats in North Africa; His great Uncle (Arthur Gelder) was captured by the Japanese and forced to work on the infamous Burma Railway. Even earlier his Great Grandfather (Bert Gelder) survived the German Gas attack at Ypres - but died a few years later because of the effects of this Gas Attack. His Great-Great Uncle, Herbert Preen died at Ypres and the NMBS visited the grave where he is buried at Ferne-Oliver CWGC. Steve has visited the war memorial at Church Stretton in Shropshire, where Herbert is remembered. A page is listed to his memory on this site.

Steve is currently researching his family tree and has found that a few relatives died in the Great War and even the Crimean War.

The Salford T-Shirt

Market Garden 2006

Steve has a number of interests - from James Bond to music of the 1980s. Like Lance Steve has a link to the UK forces. Indeed Steve briefly was part of the Household Cavalry and his visit to the HC memorial in Zandvoorde, Near Ypres was one of the most moving sites for him. Steve placed a NMBS remembrance cross at the site on behalf of NMBS and in memory of all the men of the HC.

Steve is a keen photographer and you can see over 2000 of his photos via the ‘Flickr’ website – look up “Salfordian” on Flickr. Steve is the NMBS chef and plans the meals that the NMBS have, this year his Fish Pie proved popular.

The Salford T-Shirt Again!

Normandy 2004

In France with his French shirt

Somme 2007

Astonishingly as Steve tries to be sensible and is almost tee-total, he is still the only NMBS member to be hospitalised (his own stupid fault) and nearly arrested on the Eurostar.