REMEMBERING RUBY HUNT. 1903 - 1993 By Anne Lawson I gleaned bits of Ruby's life from her when we sat painting together in
her studio. She told us her Father and his brother came from London and was mocked
by the local lads for their London clothes. Their Father provided the money for them
to set up two shops. Her Father (Albert) provided the working man with all he
needed, clothes, overalls, boots and shoes and was known as 'Little Hunts'. His
brother (Walter) took a different branch of the trade providing for the more discerning
and affluent people - that shop still carries on having more direct descendants (Big
Hunts). Ruby was the last to look after her Father's shop. Her Father had
three children, Cyril, Ruby and Leslie. Cyril had 2 sons. One, Robert, is
anaesthetist in a Midlands hospital and the other, Richard, took over his Father's Radio
business - but eventually moved to the west of Norfolk. He now has a shop in Wells.
Cyril was very clever with Radio - I believe she told us that he was called up at
the beginning of the war, 1939, and was stationed in Orkney or the Shetlands to do radio
work. Ruby was also called up to work in a hospital on the south coast, looking
after the various ailments of the young soldiers, which relieved the nurses to look after
any battle casualties. Ruby enjoyed her time there until she was called home to run
the shop. Her father was either ill or had died. Ruby's Mother had helped to
look after soldiers in the 1914 -18 war, which would have been an example to young Ruby
who joined the Red Cross as soon as she was able. She told us about one competition
prize they won which was to go around the hospital with the Matron. Between the wars
Ruby worked in the shop in Church Street. She drove the shop van around the local
villages, taking orders and carrying boots and shoes and a range of goods for all the
family. She got to know all the local roads and tracks. All of this was very
useful when she and her brother Leslie drove the local ambulance day or night. One
time when she was making the weekly call to the Weybourne windmill she found the kitchen
curtains on fire. She reckoned she saved the Mill by pulling them down. A new website dedicated to promoting the music scene in Norfolk. The main objective of the site is to show a gig list that is up to date. Visitors instantly see the next gig in the area. There are many bonuses for bands and venues, setting up an account is free, instant and automatic. There's a facility for people to buy and sell equipment, find musicians and bands. It's totally free to use and add to. I make no money from the site (in fact it costs to keep it live). The site is focused at the triangle that keeps the entertainment scene going; Bands, Venues and Audience. I have plans to extend the site further and I'd like to make a comprehensive directory of Norfolk bands past and present so any help on this would be appreciated via our website contact form. Any other ideas are gratefully received and will be considered. We're also looking for reviews of gigs and even photos from major local musical events. Wayne Beauchamp
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