BRUCE

The best boss I ever had and one whom I have modelled my management skills on was Bruce Campbell at Murray Roberts & Co in Wellington. Bruce was a great people person and very tolerant of his staff (he employed Richard after all). Actually Richard (Ritchie-boy)was a favourite of Bruce's. They had some things in common and both had a liking for either Findlaters Dry Fly or William's & Humbert Dry Sack sherry. Bruce used to lead by example so if you saw him out in the yard sweeping up rubbish you knew that you'd neglected your duties. He never said anything but the fact that the boss was picking up rubbish was an inducement for you to take over the broom.
Anyway, as I said Bruce's favourite tipple was Findlaters Dry Fly sherry and he used to have a couple at the end of the day, sitting at his desk which had a view down the length of the shop. In those days wholesale wines and spirits stores were not completely self-serve apart from the wines selection. Counters ran the length of the shop with spirits and liqueurs on shelving behind the counters. Beers in cartons came down rollers behind the counters, below the shelves.
One day when Bruce was out we dressed up a life-size, blow-up 'Harvey Wallbanger' doll in Bruce's old cardigan and sat it in his chair. (Harvey Wallbanger was a cocktail creation featuring Galliano Liqueur). We made a hat out of newspaper and put on 'Bruce's' head and stuck a half-full bottle of Dry Fly in his cardigan with a glass in front of him (see the photograph which is from a 35mm slide so is a bit fuzzy). There actually was an uncanny resemblance to the real Bruce who had a large girth and a bald head. It was side-splittingly funny to see the old regulars come in to pick up their usual tipples and call out 'Gidday Bruce' to the figure in the office. They probably assumed that the lack of a reply was due to the sherry.