Histories

Biographical Information: ROBERT CHARLES GUNNING, Baronet, born 2nd December 1901 at Lamu, British East Africa (Kenya), died 8th December 1989 at Peace River, Alberta, Canada, cremated at Peace River and his ashes buried (16th March 1990) at Horton Church, Northamptonshire, England. Geologist (B.Sc. in chemistry from Leeds University, Leeds, Yorkshire, England). He trained as a tanner and worked (1925-27) for the African and Eastern Company in Khartoum, Sudan, and (1928-33) for Lever Brothers in Nigeria, where he was a buyer of hides. He then ran a bus company in Lagos, Nigeria (1932-33). In 1933 he and a partner set up as gold prospectors, discovering the first (but not very important) Nigerian lode mine at Bin Yauri, on the River Yelwa, Nigeria (1935). He returned (1936) to Horton, Northamptonshire, England, to market garden, for which he purchased part of the old family property. Served as a Captain with A.A. (anti-aircraft) Command (1939-44). His gold mining partner died in 1943 and he went back to Nigeria to find the property had been exhausted. After two years further prospecting he returned to Horton in 1946. Aggravated by post-war restrictions and bureaucracy in England, he emigrated (1948), with his wife and five children and a large library of books, to Peace River, Alberta, where he purchased the Cambridge Quarter in the Wesley Creek District and built up a large mixed farming enterprise on five quarter sections, raising registered Aberdeen-Angus cattle and pedigree seed. Received (1975) an "Outstanding Service Award" from the Canadian Seed Growers Association. He sold the farm to his son Joseph Jeremy Gunning (see 1.1.3.5.2.1.9.1.6. below) in 1976. Succeeded (1950) his cousin as 8th Baronet (baronetcy created 1778 for his ancestor who was British Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of Catherine the Great of Russia). Chairman (1968-76) of Peace River Municipal Hospital Board and also Chairman of the Northern Alberta Mental Health Association, Secretary (1952-80) of Wesley Creek Rural Electrification Association, Treasurer and Chairman of Peace River & District Agricultural Society. Keen gardener, sportsman (polo, tennis, rugby, cricket, boxing, racing ponies), naturalist and environmentalist. In 1976 he and his wife Ann were named Peace River Citizen of the Year. See obituary in The Sunday Telegraph, London, England, of 3rd June 1990. Married (15th September 1934 in England) Helen Nancy Hallett (Ann) (born 8th September 1912 at Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, died 6th (? 7th) September 2005 in a nursing home in High Prairie, Alberta), living (2003) in Peace River, only daughter of Vice Admiral Sir Theodore John Hallett, K.B.E., C.B. (born 10th January 1878, married August 1908, died May 1957) of Bishop's Tachbrook, Leamington, Warwickshire, Rear Admiral Royal Navy 1928, Vice Admiral 1933, served in World War I (awarded C.B.E.), Naval Assistant to Second Sea Lord 1922-24, Captain of the Fleet (Mediterranean) 1924-26, Rear Admiral Scotland 1929-31, A.D.C. to H.M. King George V, retired 1933 but was reappointed to the active list in World War II and participated as a beachmaster at the evacuation of Dunkirk (1940), in the expeditionary force to Narvik, Norway (1942), and then as Director of Training, Commandos, at Spean Bridge, Inverness-shire (for which he was knighted), and of Helen Blanche Dakeyne, having eleven children:-