Tribute to top cop who helped many

Former Chief Inspector Ken Hunt served in Sussex Police for 28 years and retired some 25 years ago.

He rose to the rank of chief inspector at Gatwick Airport.

He died aged 85 following a fall in The Boulevard on Wednesday January 20.

A police flag will be draped over his coffin at his funeral in Worth crematorium at 12.15pm on Thursday (February 4).

His niece, Carol Hunt, of Broadbridge Heath, said: “He was a very upstanding man who was well known in town.”

She said people used to thank him for putting them on the straight and narrow when he was a police officer.

She said he preferred to have strong words with townsfolk instead of arresting them.

Carol added he was an ‘old fashioned’ man who bravely challenged anti-social behaviour.

She said: “He hated the fact that kids were riding scooters and bikes across town.

“If he saw kids riding around he would wave his stick and say ‘Oi! Respect for old people!’”

He used to go for daily walks in the town centre despite becoming increasingly frail.

Carol said: “He was just so well known by everybody in Crawley.

“He was always there to talk to anybody even after he retired.

“People used to go up to him for advice.”

Carol said he inspired her daughter, Sarah Brown, formerly Goring, to become a Crawley Police officer.

PC Brown worked in Crawley for a number of years before she transferred to Lewes Police two years ago.

Mr Hunt grew up in Cowfold and worked in a farm after he left school aged 14.

He married and worked in Rye, Horsham and Crawleywith Sussex Police.

He moved to Kilnmead, Northgate, with his late wife Jean when he was promoted to sergeant at Crawley Police in the 1970s.

Carol said some ten former colleagues were due to attend his funeral.

Mr Hunt was born on October 18 1930.

He had nine brothers and one sister and no children.

Jean died three years ago.

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