Douglas Bunn dies after short illness

He was founder and owner of The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, and died peacefully in his sleep at home on Tuesday (June 16) night, surrounded by his family. He was 81.

You are welcome to add your tributes to Mr Bunn below.

Although some records show his birthday as March 1 1928, he was in fact born on Leap Year Day, February 29 1928, so he only had a birthday every four years. He was born and spent his early and formative years as one of three brothers at Selsey Bill, where the huge caravan park, Bunn Leisure, is still the main Bunn family business.

Horses were his life from the time he left the cradle, the passion inherited from his father, who always saw that he had ponies to grow up with and the right ones to further his showjumping ambitions.

Douglas's professional life in law and ultimately as a barrister progressed alongside his role as one of the country's leading showjumpers.

It was his forays abroad to compete that made him realise British showjumping lacked something and which led to him searching for, building and then opening the All England Jumping Course at Hickstead in May 1960.

From then onward, Hickstead became an integral part of the British showjumping scene. It allowed Douglas to explore and expand many ideas close to his heart - the design of courses, presenting the sport to the public and the developing role television was able to play.

Next year the show ground will celebrate its half-century.

He was also the man who stepped in when the Royal International Horse Show's future was in doubt after being forced to leave the British Exhibition Centre at Birmingham. He gave it a home at Hickstead in 1992.

Douglas was vice-president of the British Show Jumping Association at the time of his death, having been chairman in 1969 and from 1993 to 1996. He was also president from 2001 to 2005.

Douglas was married three times, to Rosemary Pares-Wilson in 1952, with whom he fathered Claudia, Lavinia and Theresa; to Sue Dennis-Smith in 1960, and had Edward, Lizzie and John; and in 1979 to Lorna Kirk, mother to Chloe, Daisy and Charlie.

The last six children all help with the day-to-day running of the showground. A fourth son, Douglas, died from sudden infant death syndrome. Lorna pre-deceased Douglas in 1995.