It is with great sadness that NABMA have to convey to members the passing of Matthew Steele, Markets & Street Trading Operations Manager at Hackney.
Matt has been a familiar face within NABMA for many years, attending our conferences and events and at all times displaying a great passion for NABMA, markets and market people. He freely offered help and support to colleagues with his long experience and knowledge of the markets industry. Matt was the ultimate professional and a man of integrity with a wonderful sense of humour.
Dan O’Sullivan, Service Area Manager Markets, Shop Fronts and Street Trading at Hackney Council has paid a tribute to his friend and colleague explaining how Matt has played a fundamental role in shaping and supporting the market service into what it is today.
“Matt was a key figure in the development of many of the key projects we have delivered in recent years and he was extremely proud to lead the markets and street trading team in Hackney and was equally as proud of the part he has played in many of the officers and operatives career development during this time. His reputation within the Markets & Street Trading industry is second to none and those of you lucky to spend time with him will fondly remember his dry wit and sense of humour, his eye for standards, ability to tell a story and how he was a fiercely proud Scotsman but even more importantly than that a very proud father and more recently proud grandfather”.
A book of condolence has been set up at the office in Ridley Road with an invitation to share stories or write messages that will be passed to the family. NABMA invites colleagues to use Basecamp to also make tributes that will also be collected and passed on to the family.
Matt will be sorely missed, not just in Hackney but within the wider markets industry, such was his impact, influence and the respect held for him.
This is a very sad day for markets. Alongside his family and friends NABMA also extends its condolences to Dan O’Sullivan and his team at Hackney for the loss of a special friend and colleague. Our thoughts are with them all at this sad time.
Yours sincerely
David Preston (BA Hons)
Chief Executive
The National Association of British Market Authorities