Walter Scott Speed was born on 28th September 1916 in Daresbury parish, the son of John Johnson Speed and Mary Elizabeth (nee Hayward). Walter’s father was from a local family and his mother was born at Quatford near Bridgnorth in Shropshire. Walter had an older brother called John (Jack) who was born in 1913, and who would also serve in World War Two.
In 1921 the family were living at Preston Brook where the father was employed as a canal warehouse porter for the Manchester Ship Canal Company. Walter was not yet attending school with his brother John.
The 1939 Register for England and Wales recorded the family as living in Preston on the Hill and that Walter was employed as a clerk in a soap works, where his older brother was a plumber.
In 1941 Walter married Ruth Simpson who was a school mistress from Warrington. They had two children after the war.
Walter and Ruth Speed lived in Grappenhall and eventually moved to live in Stockton Heath where Ruth passed away in June 1992.
Walter was the organist and pianist at Preston on the Hill Methodist Chapel.
Walter Scott Speed passed away on 30th July 2009 at the age of 92 years, still living in Stockton Heath and was buried with his wife at Warrington Cemetery.
It is not known in which branch of H. M. Forces Walter served, but he appeared in an article in the Warrington Guardian in June 1946 about Victory Celebrations in Preston Brook.
If anyone has any knowledge of his WW2 service, please contact Daresbury District Heritage Group.
