Stanley Hoare

As a youngster Stanley Hoare attended Dean Close School, Cheltenham, and was an excellent sportsman. He played football, rugby, hockey, and also excelled at gymnastics and swimming. Additionally, he became the school head boy. Hoare then went Queen’s College, Cambridge, where he read geography and mathematics. He won a hockey Blue and captained the university hockey team. He went on to play for, and captain, England, winning 30 caps between 1926-37.

As a cricketer, Hoare played his club cricket at Cheltenham and in 1929 played three first-class matches for Gloucestershire, making his début at The Oval against Surrey. Playing alongside Hoare that day was England legend Wally Hammond.

Hoare served in the Worcestershire Regiment in the 1920s and later returned to his old school, Dean Close, where he became a master. Hoare was coach to the 1956 British Olympic hockey squad, who finished fourth, and in 1969-70 he was chairman of the Press Association. The Hoare sundial in the grounds of Dean Close School are named in his memory.