Saturday brought confirmation that four members of the Hoare family from Roeser were among the victims of the crash that killed all 298 people on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 that crashed in eastern Ukraine on Thursday afternoon.

59-year old British citizen Andrew Hoare, his Dutch wife Estella, and their two sons Jasper, aged 14, and 12-year old and Friso had been bound for a trekking holiday in Borneo. Andrew’s stepson, 24-year old Rink Schoofs, did not join the family join the flight.

Family tribute

The Hoare family, saying it was with “deep sadness that we have to say goodbye”, released a statement paying tribute to all four victims.

“Andrew was born and bred in Somerset and was a greatly loved member of a large family. He was a warm, funny and wonderful man whose smile and character lit up a room. Estella was beautiful, intelligent, spoke 5 languages fluently and had a very infectious laugh. Jasper had a brilliant young mind and Friso was a talented musician and peacemaker.

They made frequent visits to both the Netherlands and England to keep in touch with all branches of the family and friends. Family was everything to them and they will all be terribly missed.”

Book of condolences

Meanwhile, a floral tribute has been laid near the Dutch embassy in Luxemburg on the rue St. Zithe. The tribute, which includes an informal book of condolences, was started by school friends of Jasper from the European School.

A formal book of remembrance will be opened at the embassy, at 6 rue St. Zithe. Local residents can sign the book on Monday between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and on Tuesday July 22 and Wednesday July 23 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The Dutch government has also opened an online book of condolences that can be signed here.

Runners celebrate life

Andrew, a long-term resident of Luxembourg, was a sometime member of the Grand Duchy Hash House Harriers running group. Indeed, he and Estella met through the group, which organises group runs and post-run social events on a regular basis.

The GDH3 group is hosting a run in memory of the Hoare family on Monday evening, starting at the Glacis at around 7 p.m. The group’s website paid its own tribute to Andrew, nicknamed Shaggy.

“He was a colourful and unique character who embodied the spirit of the hash and was a good friend to everyone who knew him. He met Estella on the Hash and romance blossomed… It is with such very great sadness we hear that he, Estella, and their two sons died in the Malaysian Airlines MH17 crash yesterday. We can only offer our condolences to both of their families and celebrate the life of the lovely man we knew at this run on Monday.”