In Memory of 'our' Ian Pubby Hunter ...
Here is the second page of the collection of emails I have received on the ESSEX-List sofar:
"Pubby" was an institution on this list.
I have been subscribed at various times over the last 5 years or so and he
always seemed to be there.
His generous contribution to help others is something we should all follow.
His name will stay with us :)
Di Crystal - Mundaring, Western Australia
It was with great sadness that I read of the death of
Ian, he was certainly a fundamental part of this list
and will be missed. My condolences to his family.
Carol Burton
I was stunned and extremely saddened by the news of Ian's death. He was always there with a witty comment and helpful advice. Couldn't think of the Essex List without Pubby coming to mind. My condolences to his family.
Jacki Sampson - Western Australia
Very sad to hear the death of Ian, he was a great helper to so many
people and a great contributor to the list. Just an idea, but perhaps the
greatest remembrance family historians could have would be the continuance of his
pub web site. I don't know whether this is possible, but Ian's web site as a
may be a more lasting than other commemorations. I am sure that Ian would like
to see his hard work continued.
Barry in Derbyshire.
On a good day I get 5 e-mails this morning there were 75 awaiting me,
most about Ian Hunter - I wish I had known him.
My deepest sympathy to his family and friends.
Audrey Walker in Ottawa
Sorry to here of the death of Ian.
George Carter in Whaley Bridge
On sad occasions like this, words always seem to fail me. We will all miss
his cheery banter and help. My heart goes out to his family.
Vic Swan, Portland, Dorset
I am so sad to hear of the death of Ian, he will always be remembered for his kindness, wit and the unstinting help he gave to all on the list. Deepest sympathy to his family.
Cherie Everett
This has been a great shock to me. I have exchanged many a witty comment
with Ian about Tiptree, jam, beer, pub photos, etc. It is so sad to hear
this - it came out of the blue as far as I am concerned.
God bless Ian, may you have many more glasses of the great liquid.
Regards,
Phil
So sorry to hear such sad news about a wonderful man always helping you out
if he can.
I ll raise my glass for you Ian.
Alison
So sorry to hear about Ian, a great wit and inspiration to us all
Chris Graves, Colchester
What a shock to hear of Ian's passing. He really was a great guy, always ready to help and his great sense of humour kept the list on an even keel at times when we desperately needed it. God bless you Ian.
My condolences to his family.
Jan Buck
I am sorry if I seemed insensitive to the very sad news about Ian, by sending my Thurgood research. I sent my mail before picking up any and was shocked.
I did not have dealings with him on the list, but I enjoyed his comments and e-mails. He has done much to further the research of others and has found long forgotten publicans. I am sure they are all queuing up to buy him a pint.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Chris
May i say a fond goodbye to Ian Pubby Hunter. He will be
sorely missed but i sure he will not be forgotten.
Ian has helped me with my research and i enjoyed his messages to the list.
I feel i have lost a friend.
Rgds Robin
I want to add my condolences along with all the other Essex Lister's, to Ian's family. Ian's passing will be felt by all of us as he was truly a large part of the personality of our group. As members read through each day's postings we become friends with those who month after month show up to answer the endless queries. We have become a close-knit family, without really realising it, until now, when one of our dear genealogy family has left us. Pubby's jesting presence and untiring help will be missed for sure....his absence will leave a large hole in the fabric of what is ESSEX-UK-L@rootsweb.com . The onus falls on all of us to pull together to mend the gap. The List will never be as it was with Pubby's presence but will become whole again with a new but different personality, the result of those who will step up to the plate and be counted.
God Bless,
With great sadness,
Linda - B.C., Canada
In common with so many on this list, I never met Ian but after seeing his
many postings and exchanging a few emails, I felt that I knew him.
I'd like to think that's he's just opened a heavenly pub named 'The Pearly
Gates Hotel' but it's a sad loss to us all and I only hope that some brave
soul will try to step into the great man's shoes - in order to keep his work
and his memory alive.
Ken Pudney
What a shock !
I never had cause to ask Ian for help but I just had to read his
postings. He had a great sense of humour and will be sadly missed .
His standing with his fellow listers is obvious from all the postings
since Elmo posted the sad news.
My condolences to his family.
I don’t have any beer to hand so a vodka & coke will have to do
Cheers Ian
David Ferrie - Dublin, Ireland
Sad news indeed. I've only a bottle of Spitfire in the house at the moment
and I will drink it with a tear in my eye. Ian was always helpful and his
websites were both offbeat and interesting.
I thought that the website he hosted on Essex Milestones was interesting, but
too esoteric to have general interest - and then last year the WI decided
that the principle the website expounded (record all milestones for posterity)
was to be its national campaign. Ian was obviously a man ahead of his time.
I noticed earlier that the Essex Pubs site was not available. Now I
understand why.
"There is a corner of every English bar that is for ever Pubby"
Dave D
I don't often post but I want to say how sorry I am to hear of Ians death.
He helped me in the past as he did many many people. He will be fondly
remembered by people worldwide for all the help he willingly gave and for
his lovely sense of humour.
My sympathy goes to all his family
Terri
A couple of years ago I joined this list to find information for my elderly cousin regarding her husband's family. One of the first responses I received was from Ian and of course his info was spot on. He later helped me with info from a trade directory. It was a very long list but he finished it by saying how great it was to find so much info on one family in the one place!! From time to time I consulted him and was always treated with the same friendly manner. I found my family of interest had moved on from Suffolk but stayed on the list in the hope of gleaning a little more info, and, I have to admit, to enjoy the postings from Ian Pubby Hunter. These invariably brought a smile to my face despite a fruitless search for a couple of greatgrandparents of my own who had no wish to be found.
I was very saddened to learn of his passing, and hope that his family finds gratification in the widespread condolences posted to the list from several continents. The messages from Australia have included the west and east coast and points in between.
A well-respected contributor who will be much missed.
Sincerely,
Janet in Sydney Australia
I did correspond with Ian once and found him very helpful, but I could see the enormous amount of help which he gave to others who asked sensible questions. We could do with more like him.
He will be grealy missed and we sympathise with his family.
Gordon
What a terrible and devastating shock to hear of Ian's passing ( our
dear ' Pubby ' ) My heartfelt thoughts and condolences go to his family.
The Essex List will be an extremely poor loser without Ian, his wit,
informative and profound thinking will be very sorely missed.
Please raise your glasses to a great contributor to our list, he will be
very much and sadly missed.
With respect
Hazel Traylen
I too am sorry to hear of Ian's passing, a fantastic fellow always happy and
willing to help with advice ect, he will surely be missed by us all, god bless
you mate (cheer's).
once again Ian god bless you.
David.G Webb.
Missed already but knowing he will be taken good care of.........
I raise my glass of Mansfield Bitter to you......
Withh Deepest Sympathy
Bryan Skingle
Like so many on this list, I never met Ian but have enjoyed seeing his many humorous postings and emails, I felt that I knew him too. I know he will be sadly missed by us all on this list
My condolences to his family .
Glenn
So saddened to hear of Ian's passing. Although the huge majority of us
never met nor spoke with the man, through our age of 'cyberspace' he was
truly a friend, a pal, and a willing assistant on so many matters in
Essex. He will be sadly missed by one and all.
Please pass my condolences onto his family.
Lorrie Barzdo in Brisbane, Australia
I too have only been on this list a few months, but like a lot
of others found Ian to be most helpful, and livened up things with his
witty comments.
I am very sorry and saddened to hear of his passing - the list will be the
poorer without him. People like him make these lists so worthwhile in
sharing information, that for most of us we would never otherwise have
access to. I am so appreciative of people like him who have helped me with
my queries and take the time and effort to answer our postings. Ian did
this willingly and was always glad to help, he will be sorely missed.
My sincerest condolonces,
Kathy Noble (in Tasmania)
I am saddened to hear of the passing of such a witty, kind, helpful man.
The list will be very much the poorer for his loss.
Condolences to his family.
Cheers!
Karen.
Although there were only a couple of occasions when I had an email from Ian,
I always enjoyed reading his witty replies and comments to Listers,
especially about his favourite subject - Pubs.
To Ian, where ever you are:-
There are some that we meet when in passing,
Who are soon gone with a smile and a wave of good-bye,
But your Wit and Charm will stay with us for a long while.
I'll have a cold Australian Lager for you.
Kind regards,
Michael Battishill in New South Wales Australia
I am so sorry to learn of Ian's passing. I shall miss his wit and humour and all the help he has given with his Directories and knowledge and we all shall miss him greatly. My condolences to his family and friends! Goodbye Ian. I'll say a prayer for you on Wednesday.
Thank you.
Helen Campbell in Sydney Australia
What a shock - to get 3 "digests" from the Essex list in one day, then to
discover the sad reason. I can't think of anything new to say after the
large number of messages which have appeared already, except that I found
Ian helpful, friendly and amusing, and that's in spite of me being a
teetotaller, with very little interest in pubs or beer :-) "Pubby" will
be sadly missed.
Regards,
David Lamb (Paignton, Devon, UK)
I didn't know Ian, but I soon discovered his value to the Essex List.
His comments were always humourous, encouraging and stimulating. On a
personal level he brought Essex - the home of my grandparents - alive
for me (in conjunction with Colleen and others of course.)
Ian's contribution to the List has been immense and I wish to express my
thanks and sadness.
Sincerely
Carrol in New Zealand
Just to add my condolences for Ian who was always helping others and giving
his time so freely.
Cheers Ian
Lynne
I too am sad and shocked to hear of Ian's passing and would like to be added to the list sending condolences please.
As to so many listers, he replied to a posting of mine and I always read his messages to others; they were unfailingly helpful or funny. Below (* on entrance Page!) is one of his sent to the list in March, which I kept as it painted such a vivid and amusing picture of Essex in Springtime - it seems to me typical of his lovely style. He will be badly missed. The world needs more Ians, not less.
Merion in Norfolk
When I accessed my ISPs computer for my e-mails, I knew immediately something
serious had occurred concerning Ian Hunter by the number of messages with the subject line mentioning his name. Sure enough the news was sad, but whatever,
the many responses from Essex listers just went to show how much regard he attracted from folk here in the UK and indeed worldwide. I am sure Ian would be
very touched to know the level of personal admiration he engendered. I imagine
most of us would hope that when we too eventually leave this mortal realm others
might have something just as kind to say about us as they have done in Ian Hunter's remembrance.
Michael
I am extremely saddened to hear of the loss of Ian. I cried for someone I had never met.
So many times Ian helped me in my research, he answered my questions, he never judged me
on my lack of knowledge of the Essex Countryside.
He calmed me down when I became frustrated from not being able to find that elusive
ancestor.
Ian "Pubby" Hunter I will miss you greatly.
God Bless you always,
Chris Bryce (Queensland Oz)
So sorry to hear the sad news about "Pubby". His wit brought a sparkle to the list and his willingness to help people was so appreciated.
Condolences to his family.
Rosemary,
Waltham Abbey
It is such sad news re Ian. I conversed with him many a time
and sent him some local pub pics which he used. His camaraderie and humour
willreamin as a presence on the list for a long time to come
Diane GUEST
The news of Ian's death came as a great shock to me.
Some years ago we were exchanging messages regarding old maps on the borders
of Hertfordshire and Essex. I had sent Ian a message with more than normal
typing errors in it. He replied you better put the pint down. I apologiised
saying I'm running only on a half of a brain. Back came Ian that's great
excuse! But when I told Ian that had a stroke in 1981 which left me with
problems and could laugh about it. We became friends across the air waves.
When ever I was down Ian's sense of humour would make me forget my troubles.
In the past 12 months I haven't had much contact wiith Ian to my regret.not
being able to help him.
My deepest sympathy goes out to his wife and family on their sad loss of a
gentleman who help anyone who conacted him through the Essex list.
Bye Ian keep a glass on the bar for me
Regards
Ron Ruislip, Middlesex UK