THE Bennett family of Callow End, near Worcester, have been familiar figures in the life of the village for six generations and for well over a century, from at least mid-Victorian times.

I've been learning all about them from a member of their fifth generation - Mrs Anita Prosser, of Alton Park, Callow End.

She wrote to me on a different topic - her parents' happy times as mine hosts of the Old Bush Inn at Callow End - but I soon discovered there was also an interesting local family history to be told about the Bennetts.

Mrs Prosser says her maternal family line through can be traced back to at least Victorian times and to her great-great grandfather William (Bill) Bennett, who lived in a cottage at the bottom of Horse Hill and ran his own business, probably in building work or decorating.

His son Thomas worked on the Madresfield Estate for Earl Beauchamp but died at the age of 46. His son, Ernest, Mrs Prosser's grandfather, became a painter and decorator at Callow End for many years, and he and his wife Annie, who lived in Upper Ferry Lane and then in Upton Road, were well-known local personalities.

They had six children, though one of their sons died in childhood. Three of their children survive today, and are living in the village - Nancy (Mrs McKay) of Bow Hill; Peggy (Mrs Perkins) of Lower Ferry Lane, and Bob, who lives next to the village hall. He has been a plumber for many years, and son Trevor has followed him into the business, taking the Bennetts into yet a further generation at Callow End.

Another of Ernest and Annie's sons, Bill spent his working life with the Worcester company Carmichaels, but died in his early 50s. Making up the six Bennett children was Sylvia, Mrs Prosser's late mother.

In the 1930s, she was "in service" as a member of the "downstairs" staff of Lord Doverdale at the Droitwich stately home, Westwood Park, and it was there that she met the Welshman who became her husband - John (Jack) Davies.

Sylvia became cook at Westwood Park and, even after leaving to bring up the couple's only child Anita, she was often called back to cater for shooting parties at the magnificent mansion.

Jack Davies, one of 13 children, had a grammar school education and worked for relatives on two farms in his native Llandovery, Wales, before moving to Westwood Park in the 1930s to became footman to Lord Doverdale.

Alas, after the peer's death Westwood Park was sold and Jack Davies moved to the Mining Engineering Company (Meco) at Worcester, in 1938, to begin what became 40 years' service with the firm, latterly in the offices dealing with incoming goods and dispatches.

For some reason, he was always known at Meco as "Harry" Davies.

Daughter Anita testifies that Jack was "a real worker" and somehow managed to combine his full-time daily job with challenging posts of a different kind involving "unsocial hours."

For several years, he was steward of the Callow End Working Men's Club and then went on, with wife Sylvia, to run the Old Bush Inn for seven years in the 1950s.

"My Dad was such a friendly man and he loved running the pub," says Mrs Prosser, though she adds that her mother was not so enthusiastic. "It was before the time smaller pubs had bar staff, but my grandfather, Ern Bennett sometimes helped out. I was only a young girl at the time.

"It was a thriving period for the Old Bush, which was absolutely packed out at weekends and had successful darts and crib teams. The football club was also run from there."

Mrs Prosser vividly recalls when the Old Bush was once flooded out and the family had to move around on raised planks. Torrential downpours had sent waters cascading down from the hill behind the pub.

When the Davies left the Old Bush, Jack was immediately invited to return to his previous post as steward of the Working Men's Club and readily accepted, remaining for several years.

The Davies lived at various places in Callow End over the years, including Elder Cottage, next to the Post Office and one of the two familiar round houses near the village hall.

Sylvia Davies died in 1985, to be followed by husband Jack, in 1996.

Why have the Bennetts remained in Callow End for so long?

"Clearly, we all love the place," says Mrs Prosser, whose husband Lawrence runs a haulage business. They have two sons.