Fashion, elegance, balance and timing

 

Stewart Raymond Speed, Dec 13 1942 – June 22 2020

Those who got to know Stewart Speed during his time in Mangawhai agree unanimously he was a ‘colourful’ character but during his earlier sporting career he attracted many more superlatives through his incredible sporting prowess. A sportsman of uncanny ability he became revered by team mates and feared though highly respected by opposition players of golf, football and more especially cricket.

Stewart joined the Grafton cricket club Senior team in 1961 as a batsman, then became batsman-keeper for over a decade, also filling the role for Auckland for many seasons. Stewart, together with Club Patron and former Captain Mike deLatour became a formidable opening partnership and as a wicketkeeper was considered one of the best in the country in the 60s and early 70s. DeLatour paid tribute: “He was a gifted batsman. The timing and elegance as he played his shots was the envy of all his team mates. We all learned and improved because his style of play made it easier for us when we batted with him.“

Stew served on the clubs management committee for several years, supported the club with his trademark enthusiasm and rarely missed a Past Player Function.

Former New Zealand cricket Captain Mark Burgess described Stewart as “one of New Zealand’s most broadly talented, skilful and elegant sportsmen. It mattered not the size of the ball, as long as it was round Stewart pretty much mastered each art”. Then in a touch of gentle ribbing added “As well as on the pitch Stew also showed the way in dress sense and brought a special level of elegance and fashion that most of us didn’t dare try to emulate. It was very brave in the early 60s turning up to an Eden Football dressing room smelling of Old Spice.”

Everything that Stew did in sport was done with an elegance, balance and timing that is the privilege of very few and his ability to read a game - any game - made it look easy.

He also excelled at golf in what has been described as ‘unhurried elegance’. Such was his hand-eye co-ordination he could turn up after not playing for a time, and casually smack the ball straight down the fairway without so much as a practice shot.

Stew played Senior Pennants golf at Peninsula Golf Club with former Champ Ted McDougall as pro, then for many years played Pennants for Auckland Golf Club.

Ten years ago Stew and Geraldine put roots down in magical Mangawhai, settling, not surprisingly, near the golf course in which both became enthusiastically involved. For six years Stew successfully organised the Bonnington Cup tournament for amateur boys and in the last years of the event he successfully introduced amateur girls. Before his health deteriorated he spent two-and-a-half years building up an extensive course development plan for the future of Mangawhai Golf Club which is still ongoing and gradually moving into Stage 3. Sadly he was not to fully enjoy the fruits of his labour but his lifetime involvement in sports, his successes, his ability and his effervescent enthusiasm will remain with his friends and family for many years tro come.