Hello,
It is with great sadness and heartbreak that I write this post, to inform you that our Dad, Steve Latimer, passed away peacefully on Friday 16th February following a short illness.
I'd like to thank all of you who supported and worked with Dad over the years, he was very proud of the forum and PHF and the work and achievements of both and I hope that those involved are able to carry both on for him.
Funeral details will follow for those wishing to attend.
Caroline
May I offer my condolences he will be sadly missed :'(
My deepest condolences to his family at this sad time, Steve will be missed by an awful lot of people many of whom never actually met him, his commitment to The Town, The Post and PHF is something that is impossible to quantify.
R.I.P Steve. A great man who absolutely oozed integrity from every pore. His legacy will live on as others step up to the plate to expose shortcomings within HBC. Sincere condolences to his family.
Condolences to you and your family, Caroline. Your father was an exceptional man held in great respect by so many of us. We promise to continue his work to the very best of our ability. R.I.P. Steve.
Rest in Peace Steve. My Sympathy to your Family. I will never forget the help and support you gave me at a difficult time. Your encouragement gave me the strength to get through it. Sleep tight xxx
The people of Hartlepool owe a great debt to Steve and the original people who set up 'High Tax Hartlepool' now 'Hartlepool Post'.
They change politics in Hartlepool for the good and hopefully it can never return the really bad old days. He helped ensure light would always be shed on certain Councillors dubious dealings and that there was no hiding place for those who manipulated the power we gave them.
Deepest sympathy to his friends and family.
Condolences to you and your family Caroline.
Deepest condolences to steve's family,I hope we can carry on his great work to bring the best for
Hartlepool. RIP Steve.
Never met or knew him, but felt I did.
I can only echo the sincere sentiments on here being a newish poster but if this site stands as a testimony to his honesty and integrity then his family should be proud R.I.P.
Rest in Peace and know that we will try and do right by you and carry on your fight for what is right for this town
My thoughts go out to his family and close friends at this time
RIP Steve....such sad news.....sincere condolences to your family. Regards NES.
It was after one of the last conversations I had with Steve, that it occurred to me how strange it was that endings so often remind us of beginnings.
I was attending a job interview at a food factory in Greatham. On going into the office I found myself sat in front of a panel of five people who were to conduct the interview. The interview went as expected, but I noticed that the only questions that made me think first, were being asked by a young man who looked slightly out of place. In due course I was offered and accepted the job. On taking the position I later learned that it was on the recommendation of that young man, who went by the name of Steven Latimer.
Steve moved from colleague to acquaintance to friend over a short period of time. I don't think I could have imagined that that friendship would span over twenty nine years. Over that period of time, life can throw up its share of challenges. I was witness to some difficult times in his life, able to do little more than offer moral support, and I was able to participate in some of the happier times. Not once in that time was that friendship lost or forgotten.
Like everyone else who got to know Steve, I soon learned that he was a loyal and principled man, with a strong sense of right and wrong and the conviction to follow that through. This frequently meant he prioritized the wellbeing of others, who were in need or being treated unjustly, over his own needs.
His just reward and one true joy in his life were his daughters Jo-Hannah and Caroline. Both of whom never ceased to make him proud and I am sure they still do.
Twenty nine years as a friend have been a privilege, but I hoped for longer. Sadly, not to be.
RIP Steve.
Sincere condolences, RIP
I only knew Steve through the internet but that didn't stop him being an inspiration.
"You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din"
Back in 1983 I joined the team at RHM Foods Greathem. It was in the Atora Suet department. I was Suprintendent downstairs in packing and Steve was my oppo upstairs in production. As the 'new kid' on the block I was more than grateful for Steve's generous attitude of support, welcome, advice and helpfulness. We enjoyed great years together as both colleagues and close friends. We both went off on our own journeys over the years and lost touch until we came back together via PHF and a shared passion for making our town a better place.
The legacy and challenges that Steve has left us with is enormous. We all now owe it to him to continue the struggle. Don't need to get into the politics as we all know where Steve stood on things. What I wanted to do is pay my sincere and deep gratitude and respect to a guy who was influencial in so many ways. He was principled, steadfast and straightforward. His wry and dry sense of humour was a joy to all who knew him. I feel honoured and privileged to have known him, and for sure can say that both the world and the town, is a lesser place without him.
Might I suggest that the best tribute is to carry on what he began.
His work WILL carry on. There are many people within HBC (at virtually all levels) who provided Steve with all sorts of information. A lot of it was denied from 'official sources' within HBC, only for further information to come out which showed the post be bang on the money 99% of the time.
Many of the posts sources of information won't have gone away. They'll just send their information to different people now that Steve's passed away. We'll keep his memory and hard work alive.
What the 'Movers and Shakers' within the civic don't realise is the fact that they fundamentally disgust an awful lot of employees within the civic centre with their self serving antics, and abuse of power.
There will always be those with integrity and honesty who are prepared to provide information as they did to Steve and The Post, they did so in the best interests of the town and it's residents and I have no doubt it will continue.
Hi everyone, thank you so much for your kind words and messages.
Funeral details have now been confirmed:
Thursday 1st March at 11am, at Stranton Crematorium.
We will be heading to The Duke of Cleveland on the Headland afterwards.
All friends and family welcome.
Caroline
I have been away from the post for a short time and I have just seen this. So sorry to learn this sad news, I always read with great interest SteveL's post's, measured, insightful and the word that comes to mind is "wise".
I am sure the wasteful, profligate, loosh leaders of the town dreaded what he would publish next regarding their shenanigans and the visions they have and secrets they try to keep.
RIP.