Roy Haddon
The Founding Father
For more than 20 years, Haddon was the driving force behind New Zealand squash, running the national association as its secretary in 1949, 1951 and from 1953-71, when it was based permanently in Palmerston North. It was squash's good fortune that Haddon, with his accountancy background and driving personality, was involved with the sport from its earliest days in Palmerston North, in the mid-1930s.
He ushered New Zealand squash almost from its beginnings, when very few knew of the sport, through to the 1970s, when its popularity was exploding. He was not only national association's secretary, but was the game’s first historian, a publicist – he was responsible for publishing the Fair View newsletter throughout each season - and a forceful administrator. In 1969 Haddon managed the New Zealand men's team that competed in the world championships in England.
