The obituary notice of Mark HOBSON

Its curious in life how some people you connect and stick while others pass briefly by leaving barely a ripple. Mark was one of those who stuck and who become a good friend as a result. I first met Mark during the 2015 Polar Circle marathon in Greenland. Over the week we grouped together in our camps and made friendships through the shared experience of running through ice and snow talking about our families and our lives and experiences in different parts of the world. Its a time I'll always remember and the bonds there evolved through the years. The next time we ran together was during the 2017 Kepler challenge ultra marathon in the Fiordland mountains. It was another fantastic adventure and I'm so pleased to have shared the achievement with Mark. It was also lovely to spend time with both him and Michelle back home in Queenstown.
Mark's love of running was eclipsed only by his love for his family. He always struck me as a warm and genuine person who embraced life with a quiet passion and was always supportive of his friends, no matter the distance. I will miss his messages and his friendship and he will continue on in those memories created over the years. Forever in the fells running.

Very sad to hear the news of Mark's passing. He was a lovely bloke to work with who I will always remember.

Mark, you were such an inspiration for many, a constant source of support, someone I could always talk to with ease. Your kindness, and willingness to listen meant a great deal. More than anything, you were my close friend for nearly 40 years, that is something I will always cherish.

The stories you shared of your adventures and achievements from around the world were great to listen to, told with such passion and energy. I’m so grateful for all the memories we created together, from running training and races, to sharing the experiences of parenting and later grandparenting.

Thank you for encouraging me to step outside my comfort zone and join you on those runs in the hills, in particular thank you for slowing down just enough so I could keep up 😊. The Knowl Hill Shufflers will never be the same.

You truly lived life to the fullest and made a lasting impact on so many people. It has been a privilege to call you my friend.

So hard to say goodbye, you will be sadly missed but not forgotten.

Mark was a fantastic colleague to work with and a terrific guy. He was extremely professional, knowledgeable and - more importantly - loved passing on that knowledge to others and helping them understand some very complex subjects. And not just knowledge from a work perspective but also from his many life skills and amazing exploits outside of work.

Humble, friendly, kind and a with a great sense of humour, he will be sorely missed by all. RIP Mark and sincere condolences to the family.

It was a real shock when I heard the sad news. I got to know Mark when he joined VME around 15 years ago. He was a great engineer, and we had many "interesting" discussions on the best approaches, he put me right more than once, his knowledge was essential to the projects success.

We had some common musical interest, but agreed to disagree when it came to Waters and Gilmour.
I was always amazed, and a little jealous, at his travels, he visited some phenomenal places and did some amazing things. He certainly lived a life. RIP Mark

A lovely man, always had time for people, always interested in what was going on in your life, a selfless and special man, a great loss. Sending my condolences to all the family. Bev x

I met Mark during the Everest Marathon, only a few months after I’d come out of hospital. I was still a bit lost, still carrying more weight inside than I ever admitted out loud, and somehow, he saw that straight away. He didn’t push, didn’t pry, just understood, and we laughed so much.

We kept in touch over social media. One day, he noticed a little painting I’d done of Everest, something I thought was childish, almost embarrassing. He asked if I’d paint one for him too. When he received it, he sent me a photo of it hanging proudly in his office. I don’t think he ever realised how much that meant to me. In that moment, I felt so proud.

Since then, we crossed paths at mountain marathons. We always ran as individuals, partly because I knew I’d never keep up with him, but also because there was a kind of joy in trying to match his score, then comparing notes over a brew in the event tent. He was an exceptional fell runner: strong, light-footed, quietly competitive in that gentle way that made you want to be better simply by standing next to him.

At the end of May, I’ll run my next mountain marathon, one that I know Mark wanted to do, even if it was only to the first checkpoint, given his battle with cancer. It won’t be the same. I know I’ll feel the absence of him on that first climb, that moment when the world narrows to breath and effort, and I’ll probably shed a tear wondering whether he’d have chosen the same route. And then, as always, I’ll picture that familiar smile waiting in the brew tent afterwards, the smile of a man who simply loved being out on the fells.

Thank you, Mark, for inadvertently pushing me when I wanted to take an easier route. I always thought, ‘I bet Mark would take that climb.’ For making me feel proud, making me smile in a lonely world and for that warm welcome at the end of a long day in the hills. You made the tough world mountain marathons seem friendlier and life so much happier.