William Hunter went to Westoe Secondary School from 1907 until 1912. Following this, he went to Armstrong College, Durham and studied Geology and Chemistry, leaving in June, 1915, with a BSc and his Board of Education Certificate.

His first teaching post was a year at Westoe Boys' School, followed by a year at Laygate Boys' School, and a few months at Westoe Secondary School. Of course, these were war years, and in July 1918 Bill Hunter went on military service with the Royal Engineers in France.

He was demobbed in February, 1919, and subsequently took up a post at Mortimer Road Senior School for a year, moving on to Westoe Central School in 1920.

In May, 1924, he was appointed Senior Geography Master at Westoe Secondary School, and in the same post he moved to the Boys' High School at Harton when the school merged with the High School in September, 1936.

He was able to study and gain his MEd in 1944, and four years later, he was appointed Headmaster at Mowbray Junior Mixed School.