Former soldier, 91, told to stop street patrols

MARTY SHARPE

The Dominion Post 

 

READY FOR ACTION: John Bray is keen to find a new patrol partner and get out on Waipawa's streets again.

 

 

WELL QUALIFIED: His World War II experience stands him in good stead for street patrols, Mr Bray says.

 

A 91-year-old special forces veteran has been told he has to stop carrying out solo night patrols on the streets of Waipawa.

John Bray used to drive around on volunteer community patrols with a companion, but decided to go solo after finding his sidekick, in his late 80s, kept falling asleep on duty.

Now he's been told by the head of the local patrol that the national Community Patrol organisation does not want volunteers working alone, and Mr Bray can stay on the roster only if he finds a partner.

He feels he's more than qualified to deal with Waipawa's graffiti vandals and other miscreants, having served with the Long Range Desert Group, a reconnaissance and raiding unit of the British Army, in north Africa in World War II.

For more than 10 years he has spent at least one night a month driving Waipawa's streets, armed with a spotlight, fluorescent vest and a mobile phone, looking for suspicious behaviour.

He has no qualms about approaching people to ask them about their motives.

But he says he can understand the national body's concerns for his safety. "I'm not getting my hackles up about it. I know their thinking. I mean, I know 70-year-olds who shouldn't be driving a wheelbarrow, let alone a car."

He's been a bit crook lately after a fall and is also getting over an operation to remove a blood clot from his leg, but says once he's well he might look at finding a new partner.

"I'd like to do it again. I've just never bothered finding a partner since my last one pulled out."

He keeps busy working from home doing saddlery and stitching work, and is also the caretaker of a block of retirement flats – whose residents are all his junior.

His wife, June, died in 1988. He has six children, 14 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Both his parents lived to 99, so he reckons the patrol should get a few years out of him yet.

Waipawa patrol head John Carter says he hated having to break the news to Mr Bray. "We love him dearly and we're desperately trying to find a partner for him."