Bunny Turner (1932-2002)

BERNARD Andrew Turner, known throughout his life as Bunny, was born and brought up in East Street, one of 11 siblings.

He used to say he slept in the attic and could see the stars through the gaps in the tiles.

He went to St Mary’s Roman Catholic school. In those days he was a drum major in the Army Cadets band.

After completing his two years National Service in the Army he was employed as a builder at Fosters.

He was employed by John Wallwork who was expanding his furniture empire around the Castlegate-East Street area. When he built the underground car park, he was working on the site of the house he had been brought up in.

He later worked for John Hartwell carrying out renovations .

By then he had moved to Marston where his main hobby was gardening and he ran the village pumpkin show, in which his family always took pride taking part.

Bunny also enjoyed playing Santa at the village fate as he loved seeing the smiles on the little children’s faces

With his wife Jill (nee Handley), Bunny had five children and 11 grandchildren he would also now have 15 great grandchildren had he survived. Jill died in 2015.

He died of asbestosis as a result of his years in the building trade.