Martin Hutton -Squire  -  1947  -   2026

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The ODU and Bishops communities were very sad to hear of the passing of Martin Hutton-Squire.  Martin attended Bishops from 1961 - 1965.  He was in School House.  Martin earned distinctions for Georgraphy from Std Seven through to Matric. He was a keen athlete and a member of the School Athletics Team in 1965.  He was a Corporal in the Cadet Corps.

We received the following tribute form his brother John (1967S).

"We were all shocked and saddened by Martin’s sudden passing on 2nd October. He had been his usual vibrant self and had just been to a long time  friends’ 80th birthday party.

We thought he still had many years in him, but it was not to be.

From his early days, school was always taken seriously, from the Elgin little school, Western Province Prep, and School House at Bishops, matriculating with Geography as his forte. This was followed by time at the naval gym at Saldanha and a short stint on the President Kruger.

At UCT Martin read Urban and Regional Planning, a new course which suited him as the wide world was what he was interested in. This gave him time to become involved in the Mountain Club with weekends off walking and climbing in the Western Cape mountains. His long time Friends all originated from this environment. His major achievement while at UCT, apart from graduating with a Masters, was building the Ski hut at Waaihoek on the mountain near Ceres.  In 1970 he went and climbed Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Kenya with Ferdi Fischer 65O, Bash Attwell 65F and Rick Hoare.

After UCT Martin travelled for a year working in California and England before returning in 1972 to start work in Port Elizabeth. After a year he moved to  MLH planners in Johannesberg. Here he became involved in many projects including the development of Secunda (the Sasol town) and Mbabatu. 

Back in Cape town he had many projects, Newlands cricket and rugby stands, various schools and the development of the Parklands suburb north of Cape Town. After he retired, he consulted for the city of Cape Town and other organisations.

Martin had the character of a straight-talking person, always ready to give his experienced opinion for the betterment of the environment and all that were affected by it.  He was chairman of the Cape Town section of the Mountain Club of SA  2016 to 2021 and again in 2023-24, leading with huge dedication and enthusiasm requiring all his planning knowledge to solve many land questions. He was not the easiest of people but could negotiate his way around with his steadfastness and dry humour to get things done successfully.

Martin would often, when he had time, return to the family farm Deepdale to find out how we were doing and offer his advice on all subjects. It was always a pleasure to listen to his uncompromising view of South Africa and the world!

Martin was married to Anne Louise at first and then Trish who managed to understand and suffer his character for 43 years and got no medals for it!

His first son was Gregory with Anne Louise who returned to England, and then with Trish had Catherine, James and Simon. As a family they would often take off in their Combi to explore some remote part of Southern Africa, driving on roads not suitable for a two-wheel drive Combi.

Martin will long be remembered as a person who always contributed greatly in all spheres of life and asked little in return. He enjoyed meeting people, making friends and communicating with his wry smile which, despite his abruptness, was never far away."

The ODU sends it deepest sympathies to Martin's family.

May His Dear Soul Rest in Peace.

The Celebration of Life Service for Martin will be held on Saturday 17 October 12:30 for 13:00, Words at 14:00 - at The Wild Fig Restaurant, Observatory.  The notice reads: "Wear Bright Attire" ... "Please, no flowers - just memories".