Caravan Industry Veteran, Ian Hunter, Dies Aged 81

One of the caravan industry's leading manufacturer's, Ian Hunter, has died aged 81 in Hull.

Ian Hunter was instrumental in helping to make Hull the unofficial 'caravan capital' of Britain. He was born in Hull in 1935 and trained as an apprentice cabinet maker, before doing his National Service in Germany with the East Yorkshire Regiment as a signalman in the late 1950s.

He returned and went into the caravan industry in 1960 joining Astral Caravans before moving to Cresta Caravans. There he eventually became its production manager, and then the works director at ACE Caravans.

At ACE, Ian started ACE Holiday Homes and the MONZA touring caravan factory. He was part of the amalgamation of businesses which formed ABI in Beverley.

By the time Ian left the ABI in 1979, he was managing director and the business was making 10,000 touring caravans and 7,000 mobile homes a year.

His next step was becoming a director at Atlas Caravans in Hull where he bought out the business with Barry Herbert. The business thrived until going into administration in 2008.

He was a tough businessman but was respected because he looked after his employees.

Ian Hunter, unfortunately, spent the last two years of his life in a retirement homes after being diagnosed with dementia.

He had two children, Danny and Kerry Hunter, and six grandchildren.

This story first appeared in The Hull Daily Mail.