Terence Hunt (24 Feb 1964 - 26 May 2023)
Terence wasn’t widely known within the club, but to those who were on the meets he attended he was highly regarded, engaging company and a valued companion on the hill.
For me, he was simply my best buddy.
We met at school in 1969 and had been friends ever since. Our first hill outings were to the the North Yorkshire Moors, the Pennines and Lakes and then to Scotland from the mid 1980s. Despite going separate ways in our university years in which Terence would go on to earn a PHD in Chemistry, we continued to climb and walk extensively, continuing to do so after I moved first to Fort William and then to Inverness whilst Terence remained in the North East of England.
He was with me on my last Munro, Corbett and Donald, and was there in spirit on my final Furth in Ireland earlier this month - a trip he would have been on had it not been postponed by but Covid. We walked and climbed in France, Italy, Switzerland and Norway. He was with Meg and I on our first holiday to the Alps, and together we reached 4000m.
After participating in numerous day meets over the Terence joined the IMC at my invitation in 2019 - our most southerly member based in Skelton, which was formerly a manor of Robert the Bruce I should add! He hugely enjoyed his time with the club and joined us on weekend meets to Lagangarbh, Rum and the ‘private’ meet to Wales in 2020.
Terence was diagnosed with Huntingdon’s Disease in 2021 and his health declined quickly. His last visit to Scotland was just under a year ago and whilst he was limited in what he could do we had a great weekend in Argyll. We last met a few days before before died - a short outing to Saltburn and the North Yorkshire Moors that he loved so much - and Meg and I were so looking forward to him coming to visit us in Taynuilt in July.
Terence died on 26 May 2023. He was just 59.
He leaves behind his wife Maureen and many dear friends. He will always be with me on the hills.
Steve Bell
