John Selwyn Medley was born on 7 December 1908. The son of a prominent New Plymouth businessman and elected councillor, he would go on to establish his own successful business in the city.
Known to all as ‘Jack’, he started his working life in the 1920s as a Borough Council electrician. He was also a talented sportsman.
A keen cricketer, he was a member of the New Plymouth Old Boys’ cricket club, playing in the Old Boys’ team that won the club’s first Taranaki title in 1937-1938.
He played rugby for Old Boys’. A speedy winger, he was good enough to represent Taranaki several times in the late 1920s. He also played golf, as a member of the Westown club, and competition table tennis.
Jack married Irene Larkin in December 1939, at St. Joseph’s church in New Plymouth. Irene was known to her friends as ‘Rene’. The couple would go on to have five children.
As one of the first volunteers for service in World War Two, Jack left New Zealand for the Middle East only three weeks after his marriage. A member of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force, he was sent to the Middle East, where he was promoted to lieutenant in 1941.
Jack saw action in Egypt. In 1942 he was wounded, returning to New Zealand that October.
His life was about to change direction again. Shortly after his return, the owner of a small office equipment business on Brougham Street died. Jack took the business over and immediately renamed it ‘Medley’s Office Equipment Supplies’.
Initially dealing mainly with typewriters and adding machines, many years later Jack would say he wasn’t sure what prompted him to change trades. However, his decision proved profitable. He expanded the business, eventually selling and servicing all kinds of office equipment, Taranaki-wide, and training five apprentices.
Jack sold the business in 1973 but remained in an advisory capacity. On his retirement in November 1976, an article about his life appeared in the Daily News.
Jack Medley always maintained a great interest in sport and New Plymouth’s sports clubs. He was the president of the New Plymouth Old Boys’ cricket club. He was a vice-president of the Old Boys’ rugby club. At various times he was president of the New Plymouth Contract Bridge club and the New Plymouth Bowling club. He also served on the Central School, Devon School and Highlands School committees, and the Boys’ High School Old Boys’ Association.
His is a great story of service to community organisations.
Jack and Rene lived at 250 Courtenay Street for many years, raising their family there. Rene died in January 1988 and Jack, surviving her by only six months, died at the New Plymouth hospital on Wednesday 27 July 1988.
Related documents
Identity bows out, Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1976
Books
The Honours Board by Brian Beer (pages 133 & 211)
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