Hew set a remarkable record in Welsh golf
ONE of Wales’ most successful amateur golfers has been remembered for his illustrious career and dedication to the sport.
Tribute has been paid to Dr Hew Squirrell after his death aged 87.
Born in Cardiff, Hew attended Rhydypennau Road Primary School and later Howard Gardens High School for Boys.
He had a love of sport from an early age and at school excelled at rugby, cricket and tennis.
However, growing up close to Cardiff Golf Club, it was this sport that became his true passion.
Playing in surrounding fields to begin with, it wasn’t until August 15, 1946, that Hew was able to stand on the first tee at the club – the earliest date he could join as a junior member.
On turning 18, Hew qualified as a senior member of Cardiff Golf
Club and in his first year won the club’s four main knockout competitions.
Golf took priority in Hew’s life for many years, and he was soon promoted to the Cardiff first team, then the county side, and in 1955 was selected to play for Wales. He represented his country for 20 years and held his role as captain from 1969 to 1971
Hew’s first significant success was winning the Boyd Quaich Open Universities Championship at St Andrews in 1955 as an undergraduate studying geology at Birmingham University.
In his academic studies, Hew went on to achieve a BSc, MSc and doctorate and in 1956 started his career at the British Geological Survey.
Meanwhile, in Wales he went on to win the Welsh Amateur Championship in 1958, 1959, 1960, 1964 and 1965, coming runner-up in 1962 and 1971.
After his marriage to Ann Samuel, Hew moved to Hertfordshire where his family grew with the birth of his three children Kate, Daniel and Camilla.
He continued working for the British Geological Survey until 1977 when he took early retirement. His contribution to golf was not to end there, however, as he took up a role as Deputy Director of the Golf Foundation, a charitable organisation set up to promote golf to young people in the UK.
For a further 10 years, Hew worked to promote the pleasures and benefits of golf to young people.
He will be remembered for his passion for the sport but also for his calm, measured and meticulous approach.
Wales Golf chief executive Richard Dixon said: “It is with great sadness we heard one of our most illustrious former internationals has passed away.
“Hew has a firm place in Welsh golfing history. It is remarkable to be second on the all-time lists both for representing Wales in the Home Internationals and winning the Welsh Amateur Championship.
“Given the changes to the game in the modern era it is extremely unlikely he will be overtaken in either listing.
“Wales struggled against the greater strength in depth of the other nations in the early days of the Home Internationals, but Hew was part of a group of players who came through in the ’50s who made Wales competitive. Along with Tucker, George Duncan, Tony Duncan, Tudor Davies and others they turned round Welsh fortunes, including that first victory over England.”