The obituary notice of Steve HOPCROFT (HOPPY)

You’re living proof that family isn’t bound to just blood relations. You have always lived up to the ‘uncle’ title; not because you needed to but because of love and friendship you forged with my Dad over 45 years ago.

My biggest milestones you’ve always been a constant; big birthdays, giving me a place to stay when commuting to uni and in more recent years getting married and having Ted (I’m still apologising for the last time you popped to see him and he threw up on your lovely Ralph Lauren jumper oops).

You’d always randomly pop round and check in on us all, telling us about Tom and Beth’s latest adventures. You always talked about them with such pride - I’ll always remember that.

You were a great story teller. Each and every story would come with elements of shock, surprise and plenty of laughter.

If there’s one thing I can take from our loss of you, it’s to live life to the full so that I have my own amazing stories to tell - just like yours.

Sweet dreams, thank you for always looking out for dad and thank you for always looking out for me. We love you forever x

Hoppy was an incredible colleague, one of the very best you could ever hope to work with.

He had that rare gift of turning even the toughest of days into one full of uncontrollable laughter, and he inspired so many of us along the way.

Thank you Hoppy for every laugh, every bit of support, every piece of advice, and for opening doors for countless young people who needed someone to believe in them. You gave opportunities to those from places where chances were few and you changed many lives because of it.

Always a legend. God bless. 🙏🏾

Hoppy,

Four men shaped who I am today, you my friend was one of them.

A very special human being who changed the life of hundreds of people, all for the better.

Arguably the funniest man I’ve ever known, so many memories / laughs that I’ll cherish forever.

The very best way to describe Hoppy, If he walked into a room full of 100 strangers, he’d walk out with a 100 friends.

God Bless you mate, love you and very grateful I got to call you my friend.

🙏❤️

We first met Steve when he set up a football club for our little ones. It turned into a great team of players. Each week us parents met on the touch line cheering our lads on. This lead to great friendships and holidays together over the years. Centre Parcs, Brecon and Wales as well as skiing holidays. ‘Ski school Steve’ led the kids in a snake like fashion safely down the mountain. They would follow him anywhere. Great laughs, games, parties and fun. Heartache 10 years ago when we lost Andy and now Steve. May you two meet up again. Treasured memories of wonderful times. RIP Steve.