A FORMER Island man who spent his entire working life in the photographic processing industry, Robert Neill Hunter, died, aged 78, at Colchester General Hospital on Wednesday last week.
Born in Sheffield on October 10, 1930, he was the youngest of four sons to Christopher and Annie Hunter. Mr Hunter’s father was a founding member of the National Union of Journalists.
After being educated in Leeds, he joined photographic processing company Reflex, at its Manchester factory.
During that time he spent a year with the Royal Engineers doing National Service in Germany.
Mr Hunter moved to the Island in 1970 to manage the Reflex factory in East Street, Ryde. This he continued to do until retirement in 1988. He was first to bring colour reproduction to the Island.
He married Audrey Liffen at St Anne’s Cathedral, Leeds, in 1954, and they divorced in 1977.
Mr Hunter was a keen walker and classical music enthusiast. He also enjoyed playing petanque for the Falcon pub, Ryde, and was one of the original members of the IW Petanque Society.
A committed Catholic, Mr Hunter attended St Mary’s Church, Ryde, and Quarr Abbey, Binstead. He used to do photographic work for the abbey to help with insurance policy renewals.
He is survived by his daughter, Claire-Louise, son, Stephen, and brother, Edward.
A funeral service was being held at Colchester Crematorium today (Friday). A memorial service will follow at Quarr Abbey at 11.30am next Friday, June 26. His ashes will be interred in the abbey cemetery.
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