Ken Matches (89) recently died and while he had nothing to do with forestry, he is the last of his line and has historic relationship with Breakneck Road and out little valley with the gates that named their property as 'Goblin Woods'.
I rented 'sleepout' huts on the terrace below the Matches house and I have already written a little about old Bill Matches, Ken's father. But I mainly knew Mrs. Matches (nobody used her christian name) who by then was a bent old lady with er grey hair tied in a bun. Mrs. Matches was one of those good matriarchs - wise and warm.
We helped each other from time to time and also looked out for each other.
Richard was the younger son who suffered from polio leaving him with a stiffened neck. Richard was married in Australia but Mrs. Matches was unable/unwell to travel there. So a tape recording of the event was made and posted to her. She asked me to sit with her to listen and she had prepared a small party for us. She shed some tears privately in the next room, but came out refreshed to enjoy the food she had prepared.
Richard died perhaps four years ago.
Neither Richard or Ken had children so indeed it is the end of the line.
The Goblin Woods property was much larger than these days. There was the house area and then the area where 'my' huts were; then the large raspberry patch - where Ken built his holiday house - then an area of garden, where I grew spuds; then the area of Radiata Pine that extended to what is now Clark's crib.
These trees were damaged in the 1975 gales and after the cleanup, I erected the post and wire fence.
The area was divided up eventually - first for Essemburg's house, then Polson's crib, and finally for Collett's house.
Ken's holiday house was built by Dave Armour and we assisted to lift the framing into place - made from Thuja plicata (western red cedar) and quite heavy - probably still a bit green.
Ken and his second wife used to stay on occasion and we spoke from time to time.
Ken lived and worked in Christchurch and I did not really know much about him
The death of the last Matches of Breakneck road sees the end of an era.
The Goblin Woods property was much larger than these days. There was the house area and then the area where 'my' huts were; then the large raspberry patch - where Ken built his holiday house - then an area of garden, where I grew spuds; then the area of Radiata Pine that extended to what is now Clark's crib.
These trees were damaged in the 1975 gales and after the cleanup, I erected the post and wire fence.
The area was divided up eventually - first for Essemburg's house, then Polson's crib, and finally for Collett's house.
Ken's holiday house was built by Dave Armour and we assisted to lift the framing into place - made from Thuja plicata (western red cedar) and quite heavy - probably still a bit green.
Ken and his second wife used to stay on occasion and we spoke from time to time.
Ken lived and worked in Christchurch and I did not really know much about him
The death of the last Matches of Breakneck road sees the end of an era.
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