MILFORD - Everyone's place

Milford’s Own Squire A chat about community and conserving the past

At the age of 87 Squire Speedy has retired - but not from work as you might expect. After 47 years Squire has retired from his role as a Justice of the Peace and is now entitled to the post-nominal JP (Retired).

“The association duly presented me with this rather gorgeous badge depicting laurel leaves from the Coat of Arms of the Justice of the Peace, and the Crown.”

The Speedy family has a long association with the North Shore. In 1843 Squire’s great grandfather Allan O’Neill surveyed Devonport and Takapuna. His grandfathers were both early settlers on the Shore and both his parents were born here.

Squire is one of the sons of ‘L.L. Speedy and Sons’, a real estate and property business established by his father in 1924. They’ve been in Milford for many years, a suburb Squire says has a ‘special quality’ about it. L.L. Speedy was also instrumental in setting up the Picturedrome Theatre and dancehall in 1922.

An interesting career has seen Squire serve in the RNZAF during World War Two as a leading aircraftman radio and transmitter technician, become a registered valuer and professional witness before valuation and planning tribunals, teach as a part-time lecturer and examiner at the University of Auckland for 20 years, and write several books on property and financial matters. Throughout his life, Squire has also served the community in many ways.

A framed certificate on his office wall depicts Squire’s dedication to his community. In 2010 the outgoing North Shore City Council bestowed upon Squire a Civic Award for his service to the community and his contribution to history.

The ‘history’, he says, relates to his contribution to the history of Milford, which was originally published by the Takapuna City Council as People and Places of Takapuna.

Overcome with indecision on where to begin his recollections, Squire put pen to paper and the story began to take shape. As an author of four books, Squire knows that once you start making notes, the writing momentum picks up. Family also assisted his task, providing more information as their memories were tapped.

“Gradually we built up the picture, but it needed triggers all the way through. That part was great fun – it was the editing I didn’t like!” he recalls.
Another of Squire’s contributions to his community was the creation of the first car park in the Milford shopping centre. Comparing Milford’s scarce offering of parking spaces to the considerable number offered by a nearby supermarket that was always crowded, Squire set about convincing the council that the ‘secret’ of patronage was decent parking. “Of course we are now short on car parks, so we need a new approach to the problem,” he muses.

At the age of 87 Squire still considers himself young. “I’m 87 – that’s all – I’m still young because my brother is 90!” he laughs. While the business these days runs at a slower pace to the bustling days of the past, Squire continues to take an active part in the community he loves.