Bennys Book .

A Memory of Hatfield Broad Oak.

My relatives came from Hatfield Broad Oak and Bush End . My grandfather was gamekeeper on the forest . I have pictures of him and his wife with 9 of their children . His first wife had 16 children . My grandmother ,his second wife had 4 children . My uncle Ben wrote his life’s story which begins in Bush End and HBO ,it makes interesting reading of times gone by . My father worked at a farm in Takely when he left school, as did Ben, as chicken boy.
My father met my mother, who came from Middlesbrough, who was working at the village hospital at the top of the hill in HBO. I have photos of charabang outings, ladies meeting , one of my grandmother . She moved in with my grandfather and lived in one of the cottages next to Pincey Brook. My uncle Ben, whom I mentioned wrote his life’s story in four parts , eventually became a butler in a big house in Hertfordshire , but of course prior to that he had many jobs in HBO . My father had a good friend whom he kept contact with all his life Herbert Knight his name . My father was Walter Matthews . Uncle Ben worked for the vicar , but apparently the vicar beat him a few times for being late for work , he was no more than a bully , however he was removed by the Bishop after a petition was got up to get rid of him . Anyone interested I can send photos or answer any questions .

Brian Matthews .