HISTORY: One of Colchester's oldest firms celebrates 130 years in business

THE assassination of John F Kennedy, being butler to a Prime Minister’s son, and a mink couch are just three of the unusual threads which help to make up the history of Hatfields whose heritage dates back to the 19th Century.

The company currently has the fourth generation of the family at the helm but the man who started the dynasty began his life in an entirely different career.

Before John Hatfield started dealing curios in the front room of his home in St John’s Street in 1886, he worked as a page boy to the Round family in Birch Hall and later became butler to Prime Minister William Gladstone’s son.

Now his great, great, great grandsons, Robert and Andrew London, both work for the company.

Robert, who is the managing director, says John was born in 1847 and his work for the Prime Minister’s son often involved working for the man himself.

He would accompany him on his visits to Hawarden Castle, in North Wales.

Robert says: “After years of serving others, it is no wonder John’s ambition led him to work for himself.

“His experience in the service industry, however, obviously stood him in good stead when building his own business catering for the needs of his customers.”

The front room of John’s home was only cleared out on a Saturday night so he and his wife could enjoy the use of a normal front room on Sundays.

John was a popular character, known for noting his customers’ requirements on his paper shirt cuffs, and the business soon outgrew the front room.

Other premises were therefore acquired in St. John’s Street and Sir Isaac’s Walk.

In a slight diversion from furniture, grapes growing in the greenhouse were sold over the counter for a halfpenny a pound during the Great War.

John and his wife had three sons and three daughters and it was youngest son Arthur who continued the line when he joined in 1916.

But times were moving on.

Robert says: “Gradual changes were affecting the character of St John’s Street, including the increasing amount of motor traffic along the road.

“Hatfields resumed business as usual after the war and the firm continued to flourish,”

But in 1930 John was tragically killed in a road accident and Arthur took over, moving the business to Stanwell Street five years later.

Elsie, Arthur’s sister, married John London in 1943 and he was later joined by his younger brother, Tony working at the company..

The brothers bought the business from Arthur when he retired in 1959 and began to make some changes to improve and expand it.

Robert says: “Without any staff, John and Tony had to work extremely hard to build up the business.

Over the following two years the brothers worked six days a week and virtually every night, buying, selling and delivering furniture.

Robert explains : “John and Tony had to work extremely hard to build up the business. Over the following two years the brothers both worked six days a week and virtually every night, buying, selling and delivering furniture.

“They also managed to fit in some renovation and repair work, as well as all the administration.”

Their older brother, Stanley, also came on board, following a plea for help, and his son David soon joined him.

Tony, who had left Colchester High School for Boys at 15 to pursue a career in the navy, and his brothers wanted to have the largest and best furnishing store in town.

They launched a showroom from two shops in St Botolph’s Street, but a major world event was to have a surprising effect on the launch.

Robert says: “Despite advertising in the local papers and offering a free coffee table with every suite bought, the day ended with takings of just £59.6d and very few customers.”

“It was only whilst Tony and David were standing outside the showroom, trying to create a crowd effect, that they discovered from a passerby the reason for such a poor turnout – President John F Kennedy had been assassinated that very day.”

The shop still flourished, recovering quickly after its showroom was damaged during one of a series of fires which broke out in the town centre in 1964.

It also drew major crowds for an unusual mink covered couch displayed in its showroom window.

Robert explains customers would come in just to look at the couch.

“They would come in just to stroke it apparently,” he adds.

In August 1964, the rest of the St Botolph’s site was developed and then the storerooms demolished and replaced with a two-floor showroom.

The Peartree Road building, where Hatfields is still based, was bought in 1975.

Robert and Andrew’s father, David, took overall responsibility for its launch while his dad, John, and uncle Tony, who sadly died earlier this year aged 84, looked after St Botolph’s.

Robert says: “People thought they were mad to move out of the town centre.

“We were the first independent furniture business to move out of town but others soon followed.”

Eventually, the St Botolph’s store closed and as a result, half of the top floor at the Peartree site was opened and additional warehousing built nearby.

The 1980s saw actor Robert Powell star in a 30 second advert for the company.

When the company marked its 100th anniversary in 1986 staff dressed up in vintage clothing and Terry Waite appeared as guest of honour at a centenary dinner held at Colchester Castle .

By the early 1990s, Andrew and Robert, had joined the business.

Robert says their father never pushed them into following him, letting them find their own way.

He explains: “I worked for Harrods for a time and when I came out, I spent three months gaining my sailing qualifications, with an aim of securing a job in the sailing industry.

“I did not want to go back on the shop floor.

“But my dad said ‘come in and help with deliveries’ to make up some money, because it was not a good time of year for a sailing, and I never left,” he says.

Eight years ago, the company expanded once more with a new store, called Hatfield2Go.

This was a budget and clearance outlet next-door to the main showroom.

When they held a sale in 2010, as part of a £2million refurbishment, more than 5,000 people visited the shop on the first day alone.

“Then, after five years in quite a small location, we realised Hatfields2Go needed more space and we found a much bigger site opposite and at the same time rebranded it to Hatfields Budget & Clearance Outlet.

“It means we can cater for all our customers needs,” says Robert.

Despite both Robert and Andrew’s children being quite young they are confident Hatfields can continue as a family concern.

Today Hatfields employs more than 65 staff and offers an array of furniture, including top brands.

It also has a coffee shop in the main showroom.

Robert continues : “We are proud of this incredible achievement in our family business and on behalf of four generations, it is my pleasure to honour the manufacturers, craftsmen, customers and staff who have helped Hatfields continue on the road of success.”