A SIMPLE, moving ceremony in memory of Sir Rex Hunt, former Governor of the Falkland Islands, was held in his home town in the wind and rain today.

A memorial was unveiled at Redcar’s Zetland Park, close to the Laburnum Road home where Sir Rex grew up.

In the shape of a lecturn and coupled with a Governor’s sword, the £3,000 metal memorial was commissioned by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Councillors Josh Mason and Ron Harrison from their annual budgets.

After the services, Sir Rex’s widow, Lady Mavis, who lives in Elton near Stockton, said she only learned about the memorial a fortnight ago.

She said: “It’s really lovely. He has had all these tributes which is lovely. Rex came up to Redcar regularly, he was very happy here. He loved the beaches and the moors and he would go down to the ‘rugger’ club, so to be remembered here is wonderful.”

During the services in the park the Last Post and the national anthem was played and there were prayers in honour of Sir Rex who died last November age 87.

Prayers were also said for the people of the Falkands and those who died and fought in the islands during the 1982 war.

Sir Rex’s life in Redcar, where he was head boy at Coatham Grammar School and would regularly row and play tennis in the town’s parks, was also remembered.

He joined the RAF in 1944 and went on, after Oxford University, to join the diplomatic corps. As Governor of the Falkland Islands he was forced to surrender to the Argentines, but famously refused to shake hands with Admiral Carlos Busser.

After the ceremony Redcar MP, Ian Swales, said: “It’s important the town celebrates its sons and daughters. Sir Rex stood on the beach here and looked at ships and saw there was a big world out there. He was a man of humour and bravery and was well regarded by all.”