Mr Harry Higson Broadbent (8 October 1848–1921)

British spiritualist and public official. Broadbent was born in Oldham, in Lancashire, England. In summer of 1872 he married Charlotte Eva Heseltine, with whom he had three children: Mabel, Harold and Gertrude. In November 1878 Broadbent was employed by Castleford Council, in the West Riding of Yorkshire as Clerk and Surveyor to the Local Board of Health, having previously been Clerk to the Pudsey Local Board. He held the dual office up to 1894, when he relinquished the duties of surveyor. He became fully involved with civic life in Castleford, being identified with the Castleford Flower Show Committee throughout its existence, as Clerk to the Castleford Old Age Pensions Committee, and he was one of the vice presidents of the Urban Council Clerks’ Association. Broadbent was a Spiritualist and founder, trustee and Honorary Life President of Castleford National Spiritualist Church. He notably claimed to have a received communications and have long conversations with from the deceased Mrs Emma Hardinge Britten, another well-known Spiritualist. He died of a seizure at home in Castleford, aged 72 in January or February of 1921. Despite his Spiritualist beliefs Broadbent’s funeral service was held at the Carlton-street Wesleyan Church, the Wesleyan minister officiating.