Bernard Matthews

January 24, 1930 (age 80)

Brooke, Norfolk, Norfolk, United Kingdom

As a result of this, he failed his examinations The headmaster refused to let Bernard Matthews" exam failure reduce the school"s pass-rate and so Bernard Matthews left school with no qualifications. Matthews worked as a trainee livestock auctioneer at Waters & Son between 1946 and 1948. During an auction at Acle market, he saw 20 freshly laid turkey eggs for sale, which he bought for a shilling each, and then acquired the same day a paraffin-oil incubator, which he bought for £1 10s. After serving his two-year national service in Number. 617 Squadron Royal Air Force, Matthews became an insurance clerk to earn an income, and started his company in 1950, buying more turkeys. He was only able to join the business full-time after spending £3,000 buying the dilapidated Great Witchingham Hall and filling its 35 rooms with turkeys. In 1964 he met Nikita Khrushchev to discuss the modernisation of the Russian poultry industry. In 1980 the company launched its first television commercial featuring Turkey Breast Roast, with Matthews himself introducing the famous "Bootiful" catchphrase in his thick Norfolk accent, and becoming part of what has been described as the "national consciousness". He was later appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in the 2006 New Year Honours List, for his service with the Duke of Edinburgh"s Award, a scheme for which he had also previously been awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. However, in view of the H5N1 outbreak in late January 2007 at his Holton, Suffolk, plant, Matthews asked for the investiture on 9 February 2007, at which he had been due to receive the Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, to be postponed. In January 2010, he retired from the position of Chairman of Bernard Matthews Farms at the age of 80.

Bernard Matthews

Edit Profile

founder

Background

Bernard Matthews was born in 1930 in Brooke, Norfolk, the son of a car mechanic and his housekeeper wife.

Career

As a result of this, he failed his examinations The headmaster refused to let Bernard Matthews" exam failure reduce the school"s pass-rate and so Bernard Matthews left school with no qualifications. Matthews worked as a trainee livestock auctioneer at Waters & Son between 1946 and 1948.

During an auction at Acle market, he saw 20 freshly laid turkey eggs for sale, which he bought for a shilling each, and then acquired the same day a paraffin-oil incubator, which he bought for £1 10s.

After serving his two-year national service in Number. 617 Squadron Royal Air Force, Matthews became an insurance clerk to earn an income, and started his company in 1950, buying more turkeys.

He was only able to join the business full-time after spending £3,000 buying the dilapidated Great Witchingham Hall and filling its 35 rooms with turkeys. In 1964 he met Nikita Khrushchev to discuss the modernisation of the Russian poultry industry.

In 1980 the company launched its first television commercial featuring Turkey Breast Roast, with Matthews himself introducing the famous "Bootiful" catchphrase in his thick Norfolk accent, and becoming part of what has been described as the "national consciousness".

He was later appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in the 2006 New Year Honours List, for his service with the Duke of Edinburgh"s Award, a scheme for which he had also previously been awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. However, in view of the H5N1 outbreak in late January 2007 at his Holton, Suffolk, plant, Matthews asked for the investiture on 9 February 2007, at which he had been due to receive the Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, to be postponed. In January 2010, he retired from the position of Chairman of Bernard Matthews Farms at the age of 80.

Achievements

Skilled at mathematics, he won a scholarship to the City of Norwich School, but found it difficult to settle. In 1989 Matthews was awarded the Queen"s Service Medal by the Government of New Zealand for services to the New Zealand meat industry.

Main Photo

School period

College/University

Career

Achievements

Membership

Awards

Other Photos

Connections

Connections

Bernard Matthews

Background

Career

Achievements

Born

Died

Nationality

Awards

Commander of the Order of the British Empire; Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Queen's Service Medal