‘Great at spotting raw talent, Andy was a caring man who kept the players’ wellbeing a priority’
By BOB JOHNSON
Andy Bunting, age 74, died on Monday 25th March 2019 at home, a true gentleman and one of the most popular and respected figures in the squash community.
Born in Southport and the eldest of three children, he quickly began to show his sporting prowess, becoming an outstanding young cricketer.
He was educated at Ellesmere College in Shropshire and moved on after education to become Marketing Manager for Berger Paints.
In 1982 he looked for a better work-life balance by leaving his pressurised job and with his first wife, Jill, purchased a squash club in Cambridge, turning it round from a sleepy, loss-making club into a thriving and profitable business within six years.
In the early 1990s he accepted a position with Prince UK and two years later became International Squash and Badminton Sponsorship Manager for the global brand.
He was excellent at spotting and picking out the elite players who would fulfil their potential but always believed that the game should be promoted through grassroots level with encouragement and help for the youngest players.
Andy was known for being a caring and accessible sponsor who always kept the players’ wellbeing at the forefront of his thoughts.
He was a very keen golfer of a very good standard and was a regular low handicap member of his local golf club. He had regular battles with his old squash contacts.
Andy sadly lost his first wife Jill after many years of marriage and in later life he happily met and married Jan.
He suffered some ill health due to a genetic kidney disorder and had a kidney transplant donated by his long standing friend Chris Hughes, which he dealt with this in his usual upbeat way.
Andy is survived by Jan, his second wife, and his two children, Lisa and Michael.
The funeral will be at West Chapel, Cambridge Crematorium on Monday 8th April 2019 at 1.00pm.
Thank you, Bob, for such a wonderful tribute to Andy. Readers are invited to leave their own tributes below.