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Kevin Hunt Kevin interest in Battlefields began as a child when watching war films with his mates Ricko's Dad (Dave Richardson). His interests include building his own website based on NMBS and the actress Genevieve Bujold. He also supports the Non-league football team FC United of Manchester. The trip to Arnhem was a touching one for Kevin as he found and laid flowers at the grave of his Grandmothers first husband, Tommy Stubbs. Tommy and Kev's Nana (Rose Keegan) were married in Newton Heath in Manchester on April 24th 1944. Less than a year later Tommy died as part of the allies push into Germany (Operation Varsity) Tommy died on 24th March 1945 - 11 months after his wedding, and 6 weeks before the end of the war. Tommy was buried in Reichswald Cemetery, not far from the Dutch German border. Kevin has provided the NMBS with music on our trips - and is the NMBS DJ - much to Stu's disgust at 2am one morning during The Ypres trip. Gerry O'Meara Gerry has many interests and is a member of "The Chosen Man Society" a society which is dedicated to the Richard Sharpe books. Obviously every Sharpe fan would love to visit some of the sites and Gerry got that wish when the NMBS visited Waterloo and Quatre Bras. Gerry's strong Irish roots have made other places that he visited particularly noteworthy for him. Like the "Irish Stone" at Culloden and The Island of Ireland Peace park in Ypres. The Birr Crossroads in Ypres were also important for him as Birr (in Ireland) holds a strong family connection for him. This Irish connection continues with his love of the Irish RU football team and the London Irish RU football team. Gerry is one of the most meticulous members of NMBS and will collect all the maps and information on places visited for reference. His love of concertina postcards is infamous. |
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Lance Keeley Without Lance I doubt that most of the tours would ever get off the ground as his knowledge of battlefields is second to none. Lance has been the Treasurer for NMBS and this role make sure that all trips run smoothly. Lance come from a family with strong links to the RAF. His father served the RAF for many years and this saw Lance travel all over the world, and this is where his "Battlefield bug" came from. Like Steve Lance is a strong Socialist Trade Unionist - which links to many wars around the world from The Spanish Civil War to the Murder of Trade Unionists in the Nazi death camps. Lance's other great passion is Everton FC, which at times must be hard with four Manchester United fans in NMBS. Lance is somewhat the "Daredevil" of NMBS and is always first in a foxhole, tunnel, trench or as his picture shows at the side of a raging river (The Soldiers Leap in Scotland). Lance is also a member and supporter of the British War Memorial Project. Lance is the NMBS very own Quentin Tarantino. He has directed 3 NMBS films. |
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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. Like Lance Steve is a member of the British War Memorial Project. Steve is also a member of the UK National War memorial Inventory. 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 vistit to the HC memorial in Zandvoorde, Near Ypres was one of the most moving sites for him. Steve placed a NMBS rememberance cross at the site on behalf of NMBS and in memory of all the men of the HC. Steve's family history goes futher 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. Steve recently found out that his Great-Great Uncle, Herbert Preen died at Ypres. A page is listed to his memory on this site. Steve is the NMBS chef. Stuart Erskine Stuart bring much fun and humour to NMBS, and is game for a laugh (Kiddies Playground in Ypres) proves that he has a great sense of humour. Along with being a member of NMBS, Stuart has another link with remembering the fallen of both wars. Stuart plays Trombone for the Oldham Lees brass band and each Rememberance Sunday this Band does a service at the local cenotaph, which is fitting to remember the fallen. Stuart has won numerous awards for his skills as a fine trombonist. Stuart is also a keen Star Wars fan, and like Kevin supports FC United of Manchester. Stuart is proud of his Scottish roots and keeps a keen eye on Scottish football and was very pleased to say the least when Scotland recently beat France 1-0. Stuart turns on the TV in the morning for the NMBS. |
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