Tributes to 'lovely' south Shropshire farmer, 74

Tributes continue to pour in for Bill Dunn, 74, who died last week at his farm in Hopton Wafers near Cleobury Mortimer.

Mr Dunn was president and also a former captain of Cleobury Cricket Club, a former chairman of the Burwarton Show and an ex vice-chairman of South Shropshire National Farmers' Union.

He was also a member of the Ludlow Hunt.

Frances Meier, vice-chairman of Ludlow Hunt committee, said: "I have known him for 32 years and his wife, who was also very involved and was for a while the chairman of the Hunt supporters club.

"Bill was a lovely man who was full of life, he was a very loyal and supportive farmer to us.

"He always enjoyed following the hounds and was a very cheerful and helpful person.

"If you got lost or whatever, Bill was the first person to come and help you if you had a problem."

Mrs Meier added: "He will be very sorely missed by all the members of the Ludlow Hunt." Richard Yates, the current chairman of Burwarton Show, said that Mr Dunn was a real character who would be missed by everyone.

He said: "He was fun to be with and a most engaging character, who had a real passion for cricket and was a very good cricketer in his day.

"He was also very into his shooting, and was a long-term and long-running supporter of the Burwarton Show, having been chairman in the late 1980s.

"Bill was a real character who was great to be around, and he will be missed around here, that is for sure."

An inquest was opened and adjourned this week and the funeral is set to take place at St Mary's Church in Cleobury Mortimer on July 19.

Mr Dunn leaves wife Brenda, three children and five grandchildren.

His daughter Alison said the family had been "inundated" with messages of sympathy and support since his death last Thursday and expected hundreds to turn out for the funeral.

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