Click here for more photos of the Goodship family                                         Herbert Linford 1889 - 1969                                                             Click here for details of his war record

Herbert was born on September 6th 1889 in Flitcham and was the second son and fourth child of William and Emily Linford. The family lived in a cottage near the church moving to 32 Church Road around 1900. Herbert went to school in the village. By 1911 he was employed as a gardener on the Sandringham Estate. His youngest sister Winnie, to whom he was very close, describes him in her school composition book as being "a very nice brother and very tall". Herbert joined the Sandringham Territorial Army and with the outbreak of war in 1914, along with many of his Sandringham colleagues Herbert enlisted and served in the Army for the duration of the war.

Postcards he sent home show that he kept in touch with local girl Dorothy Helen Goodship, the eldest daughter of William and Susannah Goodship of 'Beech Lodge' Flitcham: "Received your letter yesterday, glad to hear you are enjoying your little self. What is this exciting news? Have been wondering ever since but cannot fathom it. Am sorry these have come out so rotten but not time to have them taken again. Best love, H". At some point, he changed direction and became a gamekeeper and on 28th March 1921 at the age of 31, he married Dorothy at St Mary's Church, Flitcham.

Herbert and Dorothy moved to Shouldham, Norfolk, for approximately two years at which point Herbert took a post at Houghton Hall, just 4 miles east of Flitcham. In March 1925 at the age of 35, he successfully applied for the post of Head Gamekeeper on the Whitbread Family Estate. He and Dorothy moved to Southill in Bedfordshire where they lived for the rest of their lives.

Herbert was liked and respected: those who knew him described him as 'Fun to be with', 'Having a ready wit and a keen eye for the ridiculous' and 'One could never be pompous with him about'.

 

Seated: Winifred and Ethel Linford, Herbert's younger sisters. Standing: Herbert and Dorothy and her brother Raymond. (Taken at Beech Lodge, Flitcham).

 

 

 

Herbert and Dorothy had a daughter, Cynthia Winifred Ivy born in Bedfordshire in 1926 but Christened at Flitcham Church.

 

 

Herbert was a keen gardener and grew vegetables, flowers and fruit in his garden "with space for hens, dogs and grandchildren to explore". He was took a keen interest in sport and was Vice President of Southill Park Cricket Club for many years. He could play the piano well by ear. He retired in 1963. Three years later his wife Dorothy died at the age of 76 and Herbert himself died in 1969 at the age of 79.They are buried together in All Saints Churchyard, Southill in Bedfordshire