A WARTIME radar mechanic, international energy adviser, electronics whizz and redoubtable conservation campaigner has died.
Hugh Hunt (pictured), aged 87, of Goring, died peacefully at home on Friday, September 10, after a short illness.
His wife of 58 years, Beryl, and his sons Nicholas, Christopher and Julian, said: “In his life his patience was boundless, his forgiveness ever ready. He selflessly cared for, supported and was the rock for all those who were dear to him. He is, and will always be, missed.”
Hugh was born in Hornsey and grew up in Essex and went to work for the Air Ministry in 1939. He was evacuated twice to Harrogate but in between stints there lived and worked in London, surviving the bombing of the capital which his family said gave him “a benchmark by which he judged every subsequent challenge”.
He became a radar mechanic and later an instructor, which meshed well with his fascination with electronics which continued until his death.
His younger brother Peter, a Spitfire pilot, died in March 1945 and his father died in 1949. After the war, Hugh went back to the Ministry of Supply and when he was promoted to an oversight role for Berkshire and four neighbouring counties, he moved to Caversham with his mother.
He bought his first boat in 1951, which was to become another lifelong interest and brought him and Beryl together.
They married in 1952 and built a house in Mapledurham. He built his own television from war surplus components, but could only get it to produce two separate pictures - both upside down.
In 1954 he moved to the UK Energy Authority at Aldermaston and was then posted to Washington DC.
After their three sons were born, the couple moved to Goring in 1965.
Hugh wrote the first Finance Branch programmes for a Personal Computer, before moving to the science centre at Culham from where he retired in 1988.
During the 1990s he and Beryl became involved with The Chiltern Society and in 2000 they helped it buy and restore Ewelme Watercress Beds. They were both made MBE in 2005 for their conservation work.
Until last year he was a regular at a computer club and continued to serve The Chiltern Society and the Ewelme project.
His funeral is on Tuesday at noon at St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Goring-on-Thames. The family asks for donations in lieu of flowers to Asthma UK or the Goring and Streatley Medical Equipment Fund, c/o Howard Chadwick Funeral Service, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here