One of Wrexham’s best known and longest serving photographers has died after a short illness.
Tom Hunter was chief photographer with the Wrexham Leader for almost 50 years and was 87 when he died.
He is survived by his wife Anne, son Ian, daughter-in-law Sharon and grand-daughters Megan, six, and Ella, four.
Anne paid tribute to the care Tom and the family received from the hospital staff.
She said: ‘Tom was a lovely, genuine man who loved his family, life and his job.”
He was born in Oswestry but moved at an early age with his family to live in Dunfermline, in Scotland.
The family returned to Oswestry and Tom became an apprentice photographer with the Border Counties Advertiser under the then-editor, Herbie Southall.
During the Second World War, he served in the RAF and spent four years in Egypt. He was an accomplished musician and played double bass with the force band.
After the war Tom moved to the Wrexham Leader and set up a new dark room at the firm’s Caxton Press premises on Regent Street.
He was equally at home dealing with hard news pictures, groups, portraits and, of course, Wrexham FC.
Tom was a founder member of Gredington Masonic Lodge, Ruabon and then Plas Teg Lodge, Caergwrle, where he reached the high rank of Past Provincial Grand Swordbearer of the Lodge, which later made him an honourary member for his services.
Tony Lloyd, for many years editor of the Wrexham Leader, said: ‘Tom was the first photographer the Leader had. He will be remembered by former colleagues as a dedicated and highly professional photographer, always willing to turn out, whatever the hour or despite the inconvenience.
He was a rarity these days – a one-company man from almost leaving school to retirement.
‘His loyalty to the company and the Leader in particular was unquestioned. His amiable and sociable personality gained him a wide circle of friends.’
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