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Bill and Shirley: A memoir: A memoir
Bill Sutch and Shirley Smith were two of New Zealand’s most significant twentieth-century figures; Sutch as an economist, influential civil servant, and inspirational proponent of innovation in the fields of social and economic development, and Smith as glass-ceiling breaker in the formerly male-dominated world of the law. Keith Ovenden’s wise, urbane memoir begins with the early years of his marriage to Sutch and Smith’s only child, Helen Sutch, and carries through Sutch’s trial on charges under the Official Secrets Act to Smith’s death over 30 years later. It offers unprecedented insights into both the accusations against Sutch and Smith’s remarkable legal practice and, behind both, some of the dramas of their domestic life. Deeply intelligent and beautifully crafted, Bill and A Memoir is a unique and intimate study of two complex and fascinating New Zealanders.
200 pages, Hardcover
Published September 10, 2020
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November 9, 2025
Bill & Shirley: A Memoir is written by Keith Ovenden and is a short memoir of his in-laws, Bill Sutch & Shirley Smith, based on memories and the documents and correspondence they left behind.
Bill of course, is infamous in New Zealand as the high level civil servant who was charged with, but acquitted of, passing state documents to the Russians in 1974. Shirley was his loyal wife and very determined lawyer who spent much of her time defending Bill's reputation.
This is a gentle memoir. and a limited one. Bill Sutch died in 1975, just 4 years after Keith married Bill & Shirley's daughter Helen in 1971, so his acquaintance with Bill was short and distant. Ovenden portrays Bill as a man who was deeply committed to New Zealand, but also capable of deception as he appears to have had at least one extramarital affair. He was also diminished later in life by the cancer that killed him and which may have impacted his judgement.
Shirley is actually a far more interesting subject, having sought to make a name for herself in the then very male-dominated world of barristers, her obvious intellect, and the ugliness that she had to endure from sections of society after Bill's arrest. Shirley died in 2007 so Ovenden had a much longer relationship with her that allows many more first hand memories and reminiscences to be included in his memoir of Shirley.
All in all a very interesting wee book about two very interesting people, and one that casts light on a New Zealand that is long past.
Bill of course, is infamous in New Zealand as the high level civil servant who was charged with, but acquitted of, passing state documents to the Russians in 1974. Shirley was his loyal wife and very determined lawyer who spent much of her time defending Bill's reputation.
This is a gentle memoir. and a limited one. Bill Sutch died in 1975, just 4 years after Keith married Bill & Shirley's daughter Helen in 1971, so his acquaintance with Bill was short and distant. Ovenden portrays Bill as a man who was deeply committed to New Zealand, but also capable of deception as he appears to have had at least one extramarital affair. He was also diminished later in life by the cancer that killed him and which may have impacted his judgement.
Shirley is actually a far more interesting subject, having sought to make a name for herself in the then very male-dominated world of barristers, her obvious intellect, and the ugliness that she had to endure from sections of society after Bill's arrest. Shirley died in 2007 so Ovenden had a much longer relationship with her that allows many more first hand memories and reminiscences to be included in his memoir of Shirley.
All in all a very interesting wee book about two very interesting people, and one that casts light on a New Zealand that is long past.
Displaying 1 of 1 review