We have been informed by his son of the passing of Dr Roy Hunt (OB 1945-52) in December 2023. We send our condolences to his family and thank Andy (his son) for providing more detail about a life well lived.
Andy Hunt shared an obituary from Dr Hunt's local Parish Magazine (original author Mr Sam Brown) and we feature this below (with limited edit for the OBA site)
Dr Roy Redvers Hunt (24 June 1934 to 31 December 2023)
"Born in Queenborough, Isle of Sheppey, in 1934, Dr Roy Redvers Hunt died 31st December 2023 having lived in Salisbury for over 57 years. With a BSc and then a doctorate in organic chemistry from Bristol University, he joined the MOD at Porton Down, involved in scientific research into aspects of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare for the military and authored important papers (some published) on his research into chemical antidotes and other protection.
He met his wife Jackie in Bristol, married in 1962, moving shortly after to start his job at Porton. They initially lived in Pauls Dene and moving to their current house a short distance away in Shelley Drive, Stratford Sub Castle in 1967.
Roy travelled frequently as part of his job mainly to the USA and commuted frequently to London. In 1980 to 1983 he was posted to HQ First British Corps in Bielefeld, Germany 1980 to 1983 taking his family with him. With the equivalent rank of Colonel he advised on the NBC threat and the preparedness of NATO to counter it during this challenging time during the cold war. As a civilian he enjoyed jockingly upsetting his military colleagues through his less that ship-shape approach to hair length and unusual suit colours. He later spent three years working with the CIA in London on associated intelligence matters. He was frequently out on relevant exercises, including blowing things up on the Chesil Beach, and spent time on a submarine in Norway. He travelled widely in his work. Mostly in the USA and to every continent except South Africa. Even after retiring he continued to work for organisations such as NATO and the United Nations, including travelling to Iraq, post the war to advice on the chemical weapon threat.
Jackie and Roy produced two sons who both went to Bishop Wordsworth School in Salisbury. John became a project engineer and Andrew followed his dad becoming a research scientist in pharmaceuticals. There are seven grandchildren.
Sport was a passion and Roy from a very early age having played at Bristol University for the Hockey Club. He was an accomplished golfer, as a member of High post Golf Club (Salisbury) and captained Salisbury Hockey Club (where the author was led by him from 1985, in the relaxed and fun “Senior XI”). He was also enthusiastic about gardening, producing a magnificent display of red tulips every year along both sides of the driveway and an envious collection of roses. He grew many vegetables and fruit on an allotment, becoming the local supervisor making sure other allotment holders behaved themselves! A great friend and colleague of Roy’s wrote of his sartorial taste in jackets, often adorned with a rose in a buttonhole.
Roy was highly adaptable, well liked, a strong sense of fair play and with a very wry smile and sense of humour, to which those of us who knew his can attest."