Sir Frederick Hoare, Bt, who was Lord Mayor of London from 1961 to 1962, and managing partner of C. Hoare & Co. since 1947, died on November 24. He was 73.
Frederick (Derick) Alfred Hoare was born on February 11, 1913. On his father's side he was a member of the banking family. His mother was an actress.
After Wellington he entered the bank in 1931 as a clerk, on the understanding that he would have no expectation of becoming a partner. But by his own efforts he worked his way upwards, becoming an agent in 1936 and a managing partner in 1947.
In that year he also became a common councilman of the City of London, and after serving as alderman and sheriff became Lord Mayor in 1961-62, the third member of his family to hold the office. During his year he travelled widely, including visits to the United States and Ireland, and he was active in promoting the City of London's Festival for the Arts.
His speeches as Lord Mayor reflected concern for the underprivileged. During his mayoralty the Thaildomide catastrophe took place, and the traditional Lord Mayor's appeal was devoted to the victims. The fund raised is known to this day as the Lady Hoare Thalidomide Trust.
After leaving the Mansion House he actively supported a variety of charitable causes, to which his financial acumen was an asset. They included the Anglers' Co-operative Association, Toc H, Bridewell Hospital and the Goldsmiths' Family Welfare Association.
Hoare was an unusul figure for a successful City banker and Lord Mayor. Though shy and retiring, he forced himself to undergo the mayoral duties with never a free minute. Hating speeches and flummery, he never spared himself in performing the required oratorical and social duties. He loved playing chess, bird-watching, stamps and above all, fishing by a peaceful river.
He married, in 1939, Mary Wheeler, who shared fully in his public charitable work. After her early death in 1973 he married, in 1974, Oonah Dew, who died six years later. His third marriage - to Sarah Bamber in 1984 - ended in divorce earlier this year. He leaves two daughters of the first marriage. Copyright (C) The Times, 1986