Tribute to Gill Hunt who died after Bridport bowls match

Gill Hunt, 71, captain of the ladies team at Bridport Bowls Club, sadly died of a suspected heart attack after a game at the club on Priory Lane.

She collapsed at the side of the green following a match against a visiting side. Despite the best efforts of players and emergency services, she could not be saved.

She leaves behind her husband, Peter, two children - Caroline and Chris - and four grandchildren.

Gill was a well known and popular member of the local community.

From back left: Gill with Peter, her mother, her son Chris and his wife and two children Picture: Peter Hunt

Her husband, Peter, said: “I've received 20 or 30 cards over the past few days from people offering their condolences. It shows how liked she was and well thought of.

“She will be incredibly missed. She was cheerful, always willing to help, very sociable and outgoing.

"We would have been together 49 years in September.

“She meant a great deal to a lot of people, I’m looking at four separate wakes for different groups of people so that goes to show."

Ambulance teams, fire service, and an air ambulance were at the scene shortly after Gill collapsed on Thursday, July 1 but were unable to save her.

Peter paid tribute to those members of the emergency services teams, saying they were 'marvellous' on the day.

Gill had previously had open heart surgery and had been suffering from issues with her heart over the past four months.

Peter said: “Problems with her heart have manifested over the last few months.

“You couldn’t tell, she didn’t slow down at all – she was on regular medication so obviously we were aware of it but it wasn’t slowing her down too much.

"We won't know for sure until the results of the post-mortem come back but I'm pretty sure it was a heart attack."

In addition to her work at the bowls club, Gill was a keen member of the Bridport Gardening Club and the Bridport Scottish Dancers.

Gill and Peter married in 1972. They moved together to Bridport around 30 years ago. The two met when they both worked at the Admiralty Experiment Works in Gosport.

Gill and her husband Peter on their wedding day Picture: Peter Hunt

Peter said: "Gill worked in the typing pool, she always said she would look out the window and say ‘that’s Peter Hunt, the site’s eligible bachelor’.

“We got together shortly after that and lived a fantastic life together.

“She was always so cheerful, I shall miss being able to talk things through with her."

Gill was a key member of the Bridport Bowls Club and was described as 'one of the hardest workers behind the scenes'.

As a sign of respect, the club cancelled matches over the following days but has now resumed its fixtures.

Gill and club chairman Marion Carter had been friends for many years Picture: Marion Carter

Marion Carter, chairman of the Bridport Bowls Club, said she was 'devastated' by the loss.

She said: “She’s going to be sorely missed by everyone at the club, both men and women, she was such a well-liked figure. She was so engrained in the club.

“For more personally she was my best friend here without any doubt – we have played together and catered together at the club for many years.

“I was devastated, you can’t imagine how traumatic it was unless you were there. It was a horrible shock for everyone."

She added: “It was so unexpected, she’d just got back to bowling after an injury and she was so pleased to be able to bowl again.

“Her loss is one we will find very difficult to bear.”

Funeral details have yet to be announced.