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Name: HUNTER, Dennis Graham

image of individual

Nee: son of John Alexander Hunter

Birth Date: 19 Dec 1925 Kiambu

Death Date: 1 June 2003 Springs, South Africa

First Date: 1930s

Profession: Craig's Sports House, Nbi

Married: Doreen McCallum Smith b. 1933

Children: Felicity; Craig; Anita

Book Reference: Sitrep 2, Year Book, Buffalo Barua 3, Old Cambrian

War Service: WW2 with KAR, Kenya Regt

School: Prince of Wales School Nairobi

General Information:

Year Book - 1953 - p. 277 Cricket - Picture of D.G. Hunter, the Settler all-rounder
Old Cambrian - On his discharge from the army he joined Craig's Sports House in Nairobi where he soon became a popular figure with the sporting fraternity and was a familiar sight at the wheel of his beloved MG. ……….. Later went to UK and Canada and then back to Kenya before finally moving to South Africa
Kenya Regiment 3204
Old Cambrian Dennis was educated at the Prince of Wales School in Nairobi - Hawke House - from 1939 to 1943, where he excelled at cricket and hockey. He was also an excellent tennis player and an outstanding golfer. He never played rugby but followed the game closely and although, in latter years in South Africa, a Transvaaler was an ardent Sharks ( KZN ) supporter. After school he did his military service with KAR until the end of WW 2. On his discharge from the army he joined Craig's Sports House in Nairobi where he soon became a popular figure with the sporting fraternity and was a familiar sight at the wheel of his beloved MG - KBC 316.
He was also a member of the Old Cambrians Club ( later Impala ), where he participated in all forms of sport, particularly, his great love - cricket, guiding the Club and young recruits just out of School, in it's early stages. He played Representative Cricket with distinction in the Annual European / Asians and Settlers / Officials matches nd also represented Kenya. Dennis was an excellent player and as such was approached by Springbok wicket keeper Russel Endean to play cricket in South Africa. An offer which Dennis declined - he would have preferred ythe opportunity to play for one of the English Counties.
DG left Craig's and volunteered for the Kenya Regiment. Initially, he was posted to "A" Company and later to "B" Company under the command of Major Ray Nightingale where he was welcomed by old stalwarts Syd Moscoff, Monty Brown, Brian Williamson, Brian Turner and Bombay Barrett. He was finally commissioned and posted to, I think, the Kenya Regiment Training School at Nakuru. Prior to his joining "B" Company he was sadly involved in the Priory Forest Station tragedy in which four of his fellow comrades were killed in action. This incident was to remain with DG to the end.
When he left the Regiment, Dennis departed for the UK and from there to Canada where he spent a number of years. During his stay there he worked for Lever Bros. and while with them was awarded the top salesman of the year award.
From Canada he returned to Kenya via the Pacific and India and amusingly related how he crossed India by rail, travelling 3rd class, with many non paying passengers perched on the top of the carriage.
After some years in Kenya he and Doreen left for South Africa and finally settled in Johannesburg where he was employed by Plascon Paints and spent a considerable amount of his time playing his beloved game - golf.
 

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