Keith Spry

Stuart Keith Spry MBE (1911 – 14 October 1991) was a New Zealand swimmer, conservationist and local politician. On his death The Dominion described him as "one of the great identities of Wellington city".[1]

Spry c. 1950s

Biography

Early life and career

Spry was born in New Zealand in 1911 on either 6 June (death entry) or 6 July (birth entry) [2] to Palmer and Isabel Spry. In his youth Spry was a talented swimmer. He was New Zealand champion at breaststroke and only narrowly missed out on selection for the New Zealand swim team for the 1934 British Empire Games.[3]

Spry was a textile importer and women's wear manufacturer by trade.[3] He married Edith (Eda) Beatrice Burney in 1935 with whom he had two sons and two daughters.[1]

Political career

In 1965 Spry was elected to the Wellington City Council on a Labour Party ticket and held a seat continuously until he retired from the council in 1986.[4] Wellington Mayor Sir Michael Fowler later described Spry as an "extremely good" councillor.[5] Spry was a conservationist and spent 15 years as the chairman of the parks and recreation committee.[3] After the 1974 election he became leader of Labour's council caucus and accordingly he was nominated for the post of Deputy Mayor. Spry was experienced for the role, having been a member of almost every council committee and had been a committee chairman. However he lost the vote to comparatively inexperienced councillor Ian Lawrence.[6]

Spry stood for election to the New Zealand House of Representatives for the Labour Party on two occasions. He stood in Karori in both 1957 and 1963 finishing in second place on both occasions to future Prime Minister Jack Marshall.[7] In 1969 he unsuccessfully contested the Labour pre-selection for Island Bay following the retirement of Arnold Nordmeyer, however he lost to fellow city councillor Gerald O'Brien.[8]

He was a foundation member of the Wellington Regional Council, elected for three terms between 1980 and 1989. Spry was also a member of the Wellington Harbour Board. He was first elected in 1977 and served four terms until the board was dis-established 1989.[9]

Death and legacy

The Keith Spry Pool in Johnsonville is named after Spry. Operated by Wellington City Council, it is an indoor 25 meter heated pool with a diving pool, toddler pool, spa, and sauna: opened in June 1982.[10] Spry was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1986 Queen's Birthday Honours, for services to local-body and community affairs.[11]

Spry died in Wellington on 14 October 1991 survived by his four children. Eda died earlier in the year, on 26 April.[3]

Notes
  1. "Keith Spry battled for city causes". The Dominion. 15 October 1991.
  2. Registrar-General online historic birth & death records
  3. "Former councillor Keith Spry dies". The Evening Post. 14 October 1991. p. 3.
  4. Betts 1970, pp. 261.
  5. Romanos, Joseph (28 May 2009). "The Wellingtonian interview: Sir Michael Fowler". The Wellingtonian. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  6. "New Mayor Takes Over: Surprise Choice of Deputy". The Evening Post. 13 November 1974.
  7. Norton 1988, pp. 260.
  8. "Spry's arena to still serve public". The Evening Post. 2 May 1986.
  9. Johnson, David (1996). "Members and Officers of the Wellington Harbour Board, Appendix 1". Wellington Harbour. Wellington Maritime Museum Trust. p. 479. ISBN 0958349800.
  10. Meyer 1990, p. 89.
  11. "No. 50553". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 14 June 1986. p. 32.

References
  • Betts, G.M. (1970). Betts on Wellington: A City and its Politics. Wellington: A. H. & A. W. Reed Ltd. ISBN 0 589 00469 7.
  • Meyer, R. J. (Bob) (1990). Up in the Hills: a history of Johnsonville. Wellington: Northern Suburbs Community Newspaper Trust. ISBN 0-473-00925-0.
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