Alan was born on the 14th May 1935 and played cricket for Old Whitgiftians (old boys of Whitgift School - South Croydon, London) from the age of 15, from 1950 to 1973

Pat Batty, former president of Surrey Club Mitcham CC, in his review of the 1968 season for the publication ‘Fifty Years of Surrey Championship Cricket 1968-2018’ describes
Old Whitgiftians as a ‘strong batting side. Raman Subba Row, Mike Wilkinson, David Straw and Alan Squires were the main batters. not so much in the way of quick bowling; Squires was a great trier and Leserve were the main operators, Bob Horn, Raman Subba Row the main spinners.’

The Old Whitgiftians were one of the founder members of the Surrey Championship League and during Alan’s time he played in the company of former and current test players, ‘the likes of Raman Subba Row, Russell Endean, Graeme Pollock, Geoff Howarth and David Hookes.’

Alan joined North Leeds in 1974.

Club President Ian Chappell describes him as ‘ a great player and club member and a batsman of undoubted class and grace possessing all the shots and was a model for any young player learning how to run between the wickets. Until his limbs started seizing up he was also a great fielder.'

He captained the 1st X1 in 1976 and 1983 and had a top score of 102 and in his first year 1974 scored 445 runs and in 1978 551 runs ( when they won promotion back into Division A by winning Division B ) . He won the club 1st X1 batting trophy in 1974,1977 and 1978.

Following his retirement from cricket Alan became an excellent Crown Green Bowler (next door at NLBC) and at some time captained their first team, he also led campaigns for grants from the local council for the refurbishment of the Club and its grounds.

Alan will be cremated at Lawnswood Crematorium on Tuesday 4th September at 11am

The Club’s thoughts and best wishes are with Margaret and the family.

Personal Post Script

On a personal note in the 1970’s-80’s Davies Avenue, adjacent to the cricket club, housed many players who played for the senior cricket teams at North Leeds - a group from which only Stan and Pat Singleton still remain on Davies Avenue . Alan and his family lived at number 8 Davies Avenue from August 1973 to December 1990. My family moved into the house nine years later . As we moved in signs of their time there remained: a batting glove on top of a cupboard, the children’s writing on the cellar wall and of course the garden lovingly tended by both Margaret and Alan.

At around Christmas time there is a party at a neighbour’s home half way down the road - every year for the 19 years that we have lived in the house some of the now more elderly neighbours have asked who I am - when I have told them they have said ‘Ah you live in the Squires' old house’ . This has continued for years ( I did one year consider getting a T -Shirt done proclaiming ‘I Live in the Squire’s House’ to avoid the question). Within the last month another neighbour made me aware of her disappointment that we had pruned a yucca plant in the front garden which had been lovingly planted by Margaret and Alan.

It is a testament to Alan and the family that 19 years into our occupancy of number 8 and 29 years since they moved out of the same house they are still so fondly remembered and I have no doubt those comments from former friends and neighbours of Alan and Margaret’s will continue to be made well into the future, clearly showing the high regard in which they are held.

John Jackson