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Robert Hunt obituary Robert Hunt obituary
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My father, Robert Hunt, who has died aged 77, was a working-class boy from an estate in Brixton, south London, who became assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan police. Bob stood out not just for his accomplishments but also for his integrity and his popularity among the younger officers he mentored. He was appointed OBE in 1984 for drawing up the tactical options manual for the Association of Chief Police Officers after the Brixton riots of 1981.My father, Robert Hunt, who has died aged 77, was a working-class boy from an estate in Brixton, south London, who became assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan police. Bob stood out not just for his accomplishments but also for his integrity and his popularity among the younger officers he mentored. He was appointed OBE in 1984 for drawing up the tactical options manual for the Association of Chief Police Officers after the Brixton riots of 1981.
He was never tempted to look further than London for promotion to chief constable because policing, he believed, was all about community. London was his community and his first posting as a bobby on the beat was in Brixton.He was never tempted to look further than London for promotion to chief constable because policing, he believed, was all about community. London was his community and his first posting as a bobby on the beat was in Brixton.
His mother, Minnie, had worked below stairs at Clandon Park in Surrey, where, when it was converted into a temporary military hospital during the first world war, she met Peter, a Scottish miner who was a short-term patient. They married and had five children.His mother, Minnie, had worked below stairs at Clandon Park in Surrey, where, when it was converted into a temporary military hospital during the first world war, she met Peter, a Scottish miner who was a short-term patient. They married and had five children.
By a stroke of fortune, Bob's 11-plus examination coincided with the decision by the master of Dulwich College, Christopher Herman Gilkes, to take advantage of the Butler Education Act of 1944 and give admission to the sons of poor families, with their fees paid by London county council. Bob was admitted to Dulwich, kept his head well down in the early days but grew in confidence as he became known for his fast bowling.By a stroke of fortune, Bob's 11-plus examination coincided with the decision by the master of Dulwich College, Christopher Herman Gilkes, to take advantage of the Butler Education Act of 1944 and give admission to the sons of poor families, with their fees paid by London county council. Bob was admitted to Dulwich, kept his head well down in the early days but grew in confidence as he became known for his fast bowling.
During his national service in the Royal Artillery, he met a nursery school teacher, Jean, when he was delivering a nephew to the nursery. They married in 1956 and Bob decided to join the police force partly because it provided married quarters for young police officers.During his national service in the Royal Artillery, he met a nursery school teacher, Jean, when he was delivering a nephew to the nursery. They married in 1956 and Bob decided to join the police force partly because it provided married quarters for young police officers.
From the beginning, based near the Herne Hill estate of his childhood, he believed in close communication between the public and the police. As he wrote in a prizewinning entry to the Queen's police gold medal essay competition in 1972, "The public is the real police, with police forces as its specialist agents." The essay caused the head of community relations, the future commissioner Kenneth Newman, to call on him to work in the new Scotland Yard unit on the pressing matter of police relations with the black community.From the beginning, based near the Herne Hill estate of his childhood, he believed in close communication between the public and the police. As he wrote in a prizewinning entry to the Queen's police gold medal essay competition in 1972, "The public is the real police, with police forces as its specialist agents." The essay caused the head of community relations, the future commissioner Kenneth Newman, to call on him to work in the new Scotland Yard unit on the pressing matter of police relations with the black community.
He rose quickly through the ranks, on the way taking in a University of London external law degree in 1970. By the mid-1970s he was a chief superintendent, covering the Balcombe Street and Madame Tussauds bomb emergencies in central London during the IRA's mainland bombing campaign; the Grosvenor Square demonstrations against the Vietnam war; and the 1976 Notting Hill riots. He became head of the public order branch at Scotland Yard in 1977.He rose quickly through the ranks, on the way taking in a University of London external law degree in 1970. By the mid-1970s he was a chief superintendent, covering the Balcombe Street and Madame Tussauds bomb emergencies in central London during the IRA's mainland bombing campaign; the Grosvenor Square demonstrations against the Vietnam war; and the 1976 Notting Hill riots. He became head of the public order branch at Scotland Yard in 1977.
In 1986 he underwent a triple heart bypass operation but then returned to full duties as head of the Met force inspectorate from 1987 to 1990, at which point he became assistant commissioner, territorial operations, and was awarded the Queen's police medal for distinguished service.In 1986 he underwent a triple heart bypass operation but then returned to full duties as head of the Met force inspectorate from 1987 to 1990, at which point he became assistant commissioner, territorial operations, and was awarded the Queen's police medal for distinguished service.
He is survived by Jean, three daughters, Gay, Sharon and Tracey, and me.He is survived by Jean, three daughters, Gay, Sharon and Tracey, and me.
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