Former Largs postmaster and prize-winning horticulturalist John Hunter has died at the age of 78.
There was a big attendance at his funeral service in Greenock Crematorium, conducted by the Rev. Sandy McCallum.
John was born to Thomas and Mary Hunter of 79 Brisbane Road, Largs, in 1938. He was educated at Largs Higher Grade school and on leaving school in 1954 joined the Post Office, first as a telegram boy and then as a postman. His career with the post office was interrupted from 1957 to 1959 by a period of National Service serving as a corporal with Royal Corps of Signals, firstly at Lincoln, and then at Changi ,Singapore.
John returned to the post office in late 1959 and became a familiar feature at the fine old red sandstone post office in Aitken Street.
Rev. McCallum said:” It might even be true to say that he had one of the best kent faces in Largs.”
He married Margaret Cairns at West Kilbride in 1968. John retired in September 1991 but started out afresh as a jobbing gardener. His mother was a McQuat, a well known farming family, and his wife Margaret was a shepherd’s daughter so John always had that inclination towards the outdoor life.
Unfortunately, he suffered a heart attack in 2003 and underwent a triple by- pass, but once recovered they continued the interest in gardening in a more gentle way by visiting garden centres and expanding John’s collection of orchids and keeping their own garden up to prize winning standards, winning many first prizes at local flower shows.
Shortly after Margaret retired in 2009 she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and as the illness progressed John became her full time carer until she sadly passed away in 2015.
John was a man who enjoyed the simple but never unimportant things in life, being efficient at work, playing bridge, serving as treasurer of the local horticultural society and sharing the benefits of his gardening. He fished for the mackerel in the summer months…taking a daily walk down Nelson Street to the pier. He was a long time member of St Columba’s Parish Church.
Donations were made to the British Heart Foundation.