Like father, like son

NOT many families can say that both father and son have taken part in Royal funeral processions. But Fred and Barry Hunt of Ringmer can.

Fred marched with the Royal Marines at the funeral of George VI in 1952. Barry marched with the Royal Air Force Band on Tuesday last week at the front of the funeral procession of the Queen Mother.

Fred, now 69, joined the Royal Marines in January, 1951, and after basic training and a commando course received the coveted green beret and was posted to Korea.

But while he was waiting to leave, the regiment was informed of the death of the King and immediately a contingent began rehearsing parade marches through the streets of Portsmouth.

'On the day of the funeral we spent the night at the Union Jack Club in London and then formed up in the street,' said Fred.

'There was one incident I shall never forget.

'The Regimental Sergeant Major had a ceremonial sword which he held horizontally. But, as he marched at the side of the contingent, his scabbard caught in the trouser flies of a man in the crowd.

'The RSM, of course, carried on marching and the man was forced to shuffle sideways down the street, trying to remove the offending scabbard!

'After that, it all went smoothly. The funeral was a sad and moving experience.'

The Marines returned immediately to Portsmouth Barracks and Fred was soon off to Korea where he spent 2 years in action before being posted to Malaya. After that he was part of 42 Commando which took part in the 1956 Suez Canal landings.

Footsteps

Then, in Civvy Street, Fred worked for 33 years as a prison officer at Dartmoor, Wandsworth and Lewes.

And son Barry, a Royal Air Force musician for 22 years, has followed in his father's footsteps.

Now Drum Major in the regimental band, Barry first learned music under the baton of Michael Fairhurst at Ringmer Comprehensive School. He can now place the London College of Music qualifications of LLCM and ALCM after his name.

Playing E-flat bass tuba, he has performed all over the world and at occasions such as the Changing of the Guard and the Royal Tournament.

As a medic in times of war, Barry saw action in the Desert Storm conflict in Kuwait in 1991.

And on Tuesday last week he had the honour of marching with the RAF Band at the front of the Queen Mother's funeral procession.

'I am, of course, very proud of my son,' added Fred. 'We also agreed after the funeral that little has changed over the years. All I saw was the back of the head of the man in front of me and it was the same with Barry.

'We both had to wait to watch it on television before we could see what really went on.'