The family of Andrew Hoare, the Beckington man who died aboard the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, have paid tribute to the family man.
Fifty-nine-year-old Mr Hoare, his Dutch wife Estella and their two sons, 14-year-old Jasper and Friso, 12, were on their way to a family holiday in Malaysia when the airline crashed in eastern Ukraine last Thursday.
Mr Hoare was brought up with his brother Hugo in the family home in Goose Street, Beckington. He was educated at Locks Hill School in Frome and at the age of 11 attended Wellington School in Taunton. After leaving school he worked at the Frome branch of Lloyds Bank before moving to London and then Luxembourg.
He married his wife Estella in 1998 in Beckington.
Throughout his life Mr Hoare enjoyed sport, playing rugby for Frome, football and cricket. He was a member of the international running club the Hash Harriers where he met Estella. The group organised a special run in the family's memory this week.
Andrew's mother 86-year-old Penny described her son as a family man whose smile would light up a room.
She said: "Family meant everything to Andrew and he would move heaven and earth to make sure he was at any family celebrations."
His brother Hugo said Mr Hoare was warm, funny and a greatly loved member of a large family.
He said: "Estella was beautiful, intelligent, spoke five languages fluently and had a very infectious laugh.
"Jasper had a brilliant young mind and Friso was a talented musician and a peacemaker."
Mr Hoare also had a 24-year-old stepson Rink Schoofs who was not on the flight.
