Wild Geese: Col Mike Hoare • Mike Hoare turns 100 years old (for Nongqai, end March 2019) Introduction ‘Mad Mike’ Hoare believed you get more out of life by living dangerously. And yet about 35 family and friends gathered in Durban on 17 March 2019, St Patrick’s Day, to celebrate with Mike as he turned 100 years old. It was an afternoon of birthday cake and speeches, of respect and honouring. Biography Mike’s son Chris, a journalist, has written a biography on Mike’s life. It is available in bookshops throughout South Africa and boasts 89 photographs, an index and 200 references. It tells the story behind the story and reveals the man behind the myth. Of the book, Frederick Forsyth, author of 'The Day of the Jackal' said, "I found this book a cracking read and recommend it to those who want to miss a night's sleep."
Mike Hoare 100 Wild Geese Among the guests were five of the Wild Geese who fought with Mike Hoare in the Congo in the 1960s to crush a communist rebellion, rescue 2000 nuns and priests from barbarity, and defeat Che Guevara. Several had travelled a long way to celebrate with Mike. They are, from left, Eric Bridge, Hugh Gurnell, Dave Burgess, Derek Yates and Laurie Kaplan. 105