My partner, Neil Hunter, who has died aged 86, was a hotelier and restaurateur dedicated to helping others.
Born in Newcastle, he was the youngest of three children of Elsie (nee Stephens) and Richard, who owned a tobacconist’s business. Neil won a scholarship from Westgate Hill primary to Dame Allan’s school in the city. His father died when he was three and Neil was always grateful for the influential mentors and teachers at Dame Allan’s – and also for its excellent rugby programme.
In 1950 he went to RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire, to train as a pilot and was described as having “good combative ability”. Eventually he realised that service life was not for him and asked to leave, which did not go down well. Neil’s next move was into hotel management. This change of course included a spell at the Savoy in London, where he met and married Olga Jamieson, a PA to a hospital consultant. They moved to the Lake District, where Neil became manager of the Queen’s hotel in Keswick, and had two daughters.
In 1966 they started their own business, the Yew Tree restaurant in Borrowdale, which became hugely successful. Other ventures followed including a small art gallery, joint ownership of the Underscar hotel in Keswick, holiday properties and a partnership selling handcrafted cast-iron fires. Olga and Neil separated in 1989. Neil continued to pursue his interest in catering at the Lomond Country Inn, in Kinnesswood, Perthshire, with his nephew David.
Neil and I had known each other for many years, and after we began a relationship he came to live with me in Worcester, in 1991, where we opened the Clockwatchers restaurant.
He was a generous man who helped many employees to reach their full potential and always made time to work for the benefit of others. He was chair of a group that gained planning permission for the Theatre by the Lake in Keswick, was on the committee for the development of the outdoor adventure charity the Calvert Trust, based at Keswick and Kielder, and was also a board member of the English Touring Theatre.
Rugby was an important part of Neil’s life, at school, in the RAF and in Keswick. We both had season tickets for Gloucester Rugby. He was also political; holidays could never start fully until he had found an outlet selling the Guardian.
He is survived by me, his daughters, Clare and Rebecca, and four grandchildren.
