Dual celebration for Christchurch fireman

Press, 27 June 1989, Page 3

Dual celebration for Christchurch fireman

By

TONY WALL

A Christchurch fireman, Mr Frank Rushton, celebrated his retirement and his sixtieth birthday yesterday. Mr Rushton retired from the Fire Service after 33 years, having been a fireman since 1956. • He spent 18 years at the Sockburn fire station, and worked also at Sydenham, Central, and Woolston with his last six months at the Spreydon station. Mr Rushton reached the position of station officer and he said he did not have any ambition to go higher. An incident that sticks in Mr Rushton’s mind is one his friends have had him on about ever since.

He went into a burning house and found a room that had not been searched. He saw a bed with what appeared to be the head of a child sticking out from under the covers. He picked up the bundle, and was shocked, thinking the child was dead because of its lack of movement. When he got outside he realised the child was in fact a big teddy bear. The family was safe outside. Mr Rushton has been married for 40 years. He has seven sons and 13 grandchildren. ’ He plans to buy a campervan and “see some of New. Zealand.”