TRIBUTES have been paid to Walter John ÔWallyÕ Dunne, well known in Alton as landlord of the Kings Head in Market Street, who died on July 31 in hospital.
Among them are those from the Licensed VictuallersÕ Association, the Amery Freemasons Lodge and supporters of Alton United Football Club.
A familiar face in the town, Wally moved to Alton with wife, Gill in 1970 to start a flat roofing business.
Prior to that he had been employed as an engineer for BAC at Weybridge where he had worked on the original Concord. He was a keen footballer and played in the Surrey Senior League.
In Alton he became a training manager for a team of boys, aged from five to 15, who played for Alton United FC - most of whom now have children of their own and still patronise the KingÕs Head.
Wally became a manager at the KingÕs Head for Courage in December, 1984, and tenant and licensee in June, 1986 - the pub having by then been renamed by the regulars as ÒWallyÕsÓ .
During the past 18 years he joined the NHLVGS and earned the coveted Ôgreen jacketÕ. He joined many darts teams, took part in clay pigeon shooting and had his own golfing club - KEGS - the ÔKings Ôead Golfing SocietyÕ. He organised many a race day to Goodwood and Newbury, took part in the annual Old Fashioned Cricket Match at Butts Green, and was a strong supporter of two charities - Cancer Research and the Winchester Parachute Regiment.
Wally was a staunch supporter of the Alton Licensed VictuallersÕ Association (LVA), ultimately becoming chairman.
He leaves a wife, Gill, sons Gary, Peter and Shaun and grandson, Jack.
Wally Dunne will be sadly missed, not least by the regulars of the Kings Head.