Karate Jack

Last Wednesday the 15th July 2015 my longest and best friend Robert (Bob) Wood and I visited my old friend and mentor Frank “Karate Jack” Hutchen and his lovely wife Rose.  I had not seen them for about 15 years although we talk regular on the phone.  Frank and Rose are now in their eighties. I suppose you could say I’m a mere boy by comparison at 67 years old.

It was simply a wonderful experience to catch up and reminisce while having a superb lunch laid on by Rose. Following lunch we got down to business.  I wanted Frank to tell me real war stories that he was involved in during the period of the 1970s.   Frank retired in 1980 on medical grounds

I recorded his stories on my iphone and wrote notes as Frank worked his way through some of the most horrific prison drama never told before.  His jaw dropping tails would take us all through many emotions often making us laugh and on occasion causing us to have a tear in our eye.

You can read these very true stories told in typical Frank Hutchen style in my next book “Cutting the Bars” released within the next two months.

Meanwhile I hope you enjoy reading about Frank “Karate Jack” Hutchen in my current book, “It’s All In The Fall”.   This larger than life man earned the respect of every Prison Officer that ever worked at Long Bay Gaol during his illustrious career, 1958 to 1980.

Peter T Egge

Jack Nelson

My book was only released a few hours when, Tim Walter, a life time friend of my youngest son, posted its release on his Facebook page.   Almost immediately the son of my old workmate Jack Nelson posted that his father had worked at Long Bay about the same time.

As I understand it, Jack died in the Officers Cafeteria of a massive heart attack and his son was only two at the time.   Jack Nelson was a great bloke.   He was one of those good, reliable officers we could always depend on.

I have just spoken to Frank “Karate Jack” Hutchen on the phone, (now in his eighties), about Jack and we both agreed he was always reliable, diligent in his duties and well respected by all the staff at Long Bay.

We miss you Jack Nelson.   May god bless your soul and protect your son and family.

I will write more about Jack Nelson in my next book “Cutting the Bars” which I will release later in the year.  You can find Jack Nelson on page 118.   I was deeply touched by the few words that Jack’s son wrote on face book.

There are many names of Officers in my book.   Please feel free to contact me by email peter@peteregge.com

Peter Egge