2012-11 - New Zealand Police Association

NotebookflashbackTalltalesWhen Senior Sergeant BarrettRutledge succumbed to aninternal illness at only 51 yearsof age, it was a terrible shockto his family and colleagues.No one could believe thatthe imposing and seeminglyindestructible Barrett Rutledgewould no longer be seen aroundAuckland.He had served as a policeofficer for 32 years, in postingsthroughout New Zealand, andwas enormously popular.Newspaper reports at thetime remarked on the universalrespect given to Barrett by hiscolleagues and each reportemphasised his size and “manly”qualities: he was “a big, strongman”; he had a “magnificentphysical stature”; he possessed“thorough manliness”.He was also blessed withgood humour, geniality and a“willingness at all times to helpa brother officer”.At 6ft 6in (2 metres), heheld the distinction of beingprobably the biggest man in theNew Zealand Police Force atthat time. He might have beena gentle giant to his friends, buthe was also the scourge of “slygrog”sellers from Wellingtonto Auckland among whom heno doubt used his size to greatadvantage.When he was posted inWellington, he was at the MtCook Station, at that timeconsidered an area that “neededstrong, firm methods”, whichBarrett was able to provide.He was renowned for hisability to sniff out unlicensedhotels or liquor stores. A photoof him posing with some of theresults of his sorties shows hismore irreverent side.When Barrett made hisuntimely exit from life, he leftbehind a wife and four children.One of his sons, also namedBarrett, but nicknamed Big Benbecause he too was well over sixfoot, went on to become a trafficofficer in Devonport, where hecut a striking figure on pointduty on Marine Parade. Healso died relatively young, aged54, from the same illness thatplagued his father – a duodenalulcer.Today, a Rutledge descendant,Anna Gibb, works in thePolice Association accountsdepartment. She says she grewup hearing stories about herfamously tall, almost mythical,great-great grandfather and hisson. Her grandmother, DorothyMiranda (daughter of Big Ben’sbrother, Richard), supplied thephotographs and informationfor this story.– ELLEN BROOK1. Which Beatles songfeatures the namesVera, Chuck andDave?2. What are yousupposed to give/get for 40 years ofmarriage?3. What type of cloud isnormally associatedwith thunderstorms?4. What does alepidopterist collect?5. In which Britishcathedral is theWhispering Gallery?6. What side of a coinis obverse, heads ortails?7. Cascade, horsetail,plunge and tieredare all types of what?8. Which colour ball isworth three points insnooker?9. Frigophobia is thefear of what?10. Which 1980s popgroup were namedafter a 1960 filmstarring RobertWagner, NatalieWood and PearlBailey?Barrett Rutledge in uniform and posing with the results of a sly grog raid.Answers:1. When I’m 642. Ruby3. Cumulonimbus4. Butterflies5. St Paul’s6. Heads7. Waterfalls8. Green9. Being cold10. Fine YoungCannibalsnew zealand police aSSOCIATION november 2012 269