THE future of a scheme to help young people continue to live in Chipperfield is one step closer to success after Dacorum Borough Council last week backed plans for a new housing development in the village. Lock-up garages at Croft Meadow have been earmarked
IT is red letter day for thousands of Watford teenagers waiting for A-level results on August 20. For the first time this year, Hertfordshire Careers Service is offering a post-results telephone helpline service. Careers adviser Mr Jerry Dickins said:
EVERY now and then Watford Football Club puts someone's nose out of joint. It goes with the territory. Every football club does it. The basic reason is that a football club is an evolving entity, not as constant as most of the fans who follow it. "I went
LANGLEYBURY'S title hopes suffered a set-back when Old MIllhillians had the impudence to leave Hunton Bridge victorious at the weekend. It leaves Bury 29 points adrift of leaders Hoddesdon following their second defeat of the season. Careless batting
THE Watford boss, so often the architect of cup triumphs against the odds, experienced the other side of the coin but took it in his stride. "I think that is the first time I have been the subject of a giant-killing because basically, in the main, I have
WATFORD fans had the unusual experience of watching a team 'do a Watford' on them as the Hornets exited from the League (Worthington) Cup on Tuesday night. But whereas Watford often succeeded in registering one-off cup successes with disciplined performances
GRAHAM TAYLOR was quick to admit to the fortunate nature of Watford's victory on Saturday but feels there is more to come from his team as the players knit together "We had moments of good fortune through the game. Bradford had some good chances earlier
THERE was a measure of revenge for Watford when the Reserves rolled over Cambridge United Reserves 4-0 at Northwood on Wednesday with a good team display. Good set-up play with Perpetuini to Pluck enabled SMITH to go clean through and tuck the ball home
POSTAL worker Pauline Dennis will be hanging up her sack and taking a rest tomorrow after 20 years of delivering mail in Redbourn. Mrs Dennis, who is 50 next week, retires from her job at the sorting office off the High Street, Redbourn. She has spent
LOCAL authorities have now had their turn to criticise West Herts Health Authority's plans for the future of local health services. At Monday's meeting, representatives of five councils said they feared both options presented by the health authority would
DISAPPOINTED Bradford boss, Paul Jewell said after the game: "It was nice to see us create so many chances even if we did not put them away. I am very, very disappointed with the result. The new boy Isaiah did very well and is going to give defences a
FOLLOWING Jan Lohman, Ronny Rosenthal and Lars Melvang, Michel Ngonge extended the list of foreigners who have scored on the first Watford appearance. His goal against Bradford gave the club a second consecutive home win for the first time since last
SANDRIDGE ROVERS made a winning start to the season when they triumphed over Sun Postal. In the first half hour, half chances were created by both sides but then out of the blue Steven Kelly put Sun ahead with a speculative long range shot that flew past
ST Peter's opened their Division One campaign with a 2-2 draw against a young Welwyn side. In hot conditions the new-look Saints outfit failed to gel as their youthful opponents looked the more confident of the two sides going forward. Quicker to the
HALF a century of commuting would not seem much of a reason to celebrate for most people. But Roy Lawson has fond memories of the train journeys he has taken during the last 50 years, first from north London and then from Harpenden, into the City. And
A CROWD some 4,200 short of the number that witnessed the Saints previous home match, saw the Saints complete their preparations for the season on Saturday with a flattering victory at Clarence Park over Dr Martens League side Chelmsford City. In the
A WOMAN died after being hit by her husband's car as she directed him into a parking space at a Bricket Wood restaurant. Mrs Dorothy Howes, 66, died at West Herts Hospital in Hemel Hempstead on Thursday after suffering serious head injuries. The accident
A GROUP of Harpenden mums dedicated to transforming a derelict patch of land into a playground for youngsters kicked off their fundraising on Sunday. The parents' action group organised a giant car boot sale on the land they are planning to rejuvenate
The British Association of Plastic Surgeons (Baps) has slammed plans to break up services at Mount Vernon Hospital. Hillingdon Health Authority plans to move half the hospital's burns and plastic surgery services, including all those that deal with children
POLICE have been called in to investigate racism allegations made against a driver working for Watford's biggest bus and coach company. Officers from Watford police's racial incident unit have received reports of allegations made by the Asian Women's
A MOTORIST used his feet to break through the windscreen of a toppled lorry on the M25 and rescue the driver trapped inside. Mr Kenneth Hadley fought his way through flames and thick smoke to pull the driver, Mr Darren Phillips, clear of the cab, after
GOVERNMENT plans to widen the M25 in south west Hertfordshire have finally been dropped after vociferous objections from councillors, residents and environmental groups. The project to extend the M25 between junctions 16 and 19 (Denham and Watford), from
MEDIEVAL sports and games were the main attractions at one of the biggest annual craft fair extravaganzas in the area. Aldenham Country Park played host to a weekend of themed events aimed at capturing the spirit of Ye Olde England. The Merrie Olde England
A SPECIAL teaching method passed down through five generations of a family has inspired one of its members to start up her own school. Mrs Sheila O'Neill is the third generation in a family that has fully embraced the now world-renowned Montessori teaching
BOSSES at West Herts Health Authority took an unprecedented step of drafting in bouncers for a public meeting about the future of Mount Vernon Hospital. It is difficult to know what sort of problems the authority's chief executive, Mr David Panter, was
A COLLECTIVE sigh of relief could be heard from schools across Watford as A-level students received their results yesterday (Thursday). As national statistics indicate a 0.2 per cent increase in the number of students achieving grades A to E, taking the
SMOKE alarms and fire doors do not have to be installed in existing council houses and flats, claim officials. Concerns were raised by Sarratt Parish Councillor Michael Warner after an incident in the village which could have had tragic consequences.
IMAGINE what it would feel like to walk into a doctor's surgery, have treatment and walk out feeling as if a lightbulb had been switched on in your head. Suddenly, you would be able to think clearly, make sound judgements and act decisively. No fuss,
A LONDON COLNEY man is taking his fight to John Prescott after St Albans District Council refused to let him run a take-away restaurant from a building that has been empty for a year. Raj Sookdawar, 42, of New House Park, has lodged an appeal with the
BOUNCERS were drafted in by Hillingdon Health bosses to help keep order at a public meeting on the future of Mount Vernon Hospital. The extra security was drafted in by heath authority chief executive Mr David Panter, before he addressed the meeting,
A LITTLE girl who fell into the River Colne as she celebrated catching a fish was pulled to safety by her brother who bravely jumped in after her. Wendy Simmons, seven, had begged her parents to let her go fishing with older brothers Allen, ten, and Karl
A MAN from Rickmansworth who was described by the presiding magistrate in court this week as "a pain in the neck" has been spared a jail sentence for car crimes. Hedley Baldwin, 19, pleaded guilty at Watford Magistrates to seven offences, including one
AT nearly three hours long, there's one thing The Horse Whisperer will definitely make you feel - and that's saddlesore Apart from numb bottom cheeks and a yearning desire to go for a wee, it will probably also make you feel slightly warm-hearted, enriched
RICHARD JOHNSON, who capped a full 90-minute outing in the reserves with a stunning 35-yard goal, could be joining the squad for Bristol tomorrow. Taylor will be checking to make certain the Australian, who has been training like a demon since receiving
MODERN science has enabled wine producers to make great leaps in the art of wine-making. There is, however, nothing that can replace the taste of naturally ripe fruit. You can add sugar and cream to a bowl full of slightly hard, under-ripe strawberries
IRISES add a touch of elegance to the flower garden. They are easy to grow and come in forms that live happily in water, in the moist boggy area round ponds in borders or in a rockery situation. By carefully choosing the varieties you can have colour
TENS of thousands of Hare Krishna devotees flocked to the area at the weekend to celebrate one of the biggest festivals of their year, Janmashtami. The annual celebration of the birthday of Lord Krishna was held at the Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna
WE'VE not had much in the way of summer so far this year and already there are signs of autumn on the horizon. Soon, now the swifts will be off on their long journey to the wide African Velt. If the number of birds at Tring reservoirs is any judge of
THE naked body of a depressed man obsessed with dying too early lay undiscovered for several days in his tiny bedsit. On Wednesday, an inquest into the death of Mr David Scholtke heard how police were sent to his home in Brightwell Road, Watford, by concerned
TONY DIPROSE has put his midsummer night's disaster behind him and is aiming to win what he thinks is English rugby's most open title race ever. The Saracens skipper, who led England to that record defeat by Australia in Brisbane in June, believes he
BRADFORD City's keeper Gary Walsh turned to Watford fans behind the goal during the match and jokingly asked one for a slice of pie. When a pie was thrown in his direction, he picked it up and took a bite. While such camaraderie between rivals is to be
NEW signings and existing favourites talked up Saracens' chances of going one better this season, when the Men in Black congregated for their press day on Wednesday. Super 12 stars Troy Coker and Jeremy Thomson - the final pieces in the jigsaw - were
The bombing outrage in Omagh on Saturday underlines the fact that it is a foolish person who thinks he understands the problem that is Northern Ireland. I claim no special understanding, but I visit the province regularly and have many friends there.
A LAST minute cash injection has saved a key service which prepares Bovingdon-based prisoners for life on the outside. The service for The Mount Prison, run by manager of Watford Citizens Advice Bureau Ms Carol Firman, looked set to come to an end after
A WEALTHY builder hanged himself from rafters in his garage, an inquest heard last week. Company director Jeffrey Holdrup, 51, of the Mill House, Colney Heath, committed suicide in May following marital problems and stress at work. The inquest, in Hemel
DEAN Yates blotted a good performance on Tuesday by conceding a penalty. "I thought I got the ball for the penalty and I was surprised when the referee gave it," he said. "The referee said to me that I had caught the player before I got the ball and that
POLLUTION experts were left scratching their heads after a mystery phenomenon killed hundreds of fish along a stretch of river in Watford. Despite extensive tests to the water alongside Riverside Road, officials from the Environment Agency failed to establish
WORK on the new £16,000 play area at The Wick, off Sandpit Lane, St Albans, begins this month. Seeking out the equipment could, however, prove tricky - it has all been designed to blend in with the surrounding woods. The old equipment at the site was
A BALMY summer evening at Clarence Park last Tuesday provided the perfect conditions for the showpiece of St Albans City's summer friendlies with the visit of Christian Gross and his full Tottenham Hotspur first team. No surprises that the Saints were
VIGILANTES took the law into their own hands when they came across a teenager near their burgled car. Thinking the 18-year-old St Albans man had broken into their vehicle, they attacked him. But the man was only an innocent bystander. The assault left
BRAVE staff foiled an armed robbery attempt at a St Albans post office on Wednesday, August 13. Police are now hunting for the two armed men who mounted the lunchtime raid on Fleetville Post Office in Hatfield Road. The two men, dressed in motorcycle
A ST ALBANS woman who was scarred for life by hot tea from a fast food restaurant hopes to receive a £2,000 payout. Florist Sheila Sortwell, 34, of Arthur Road, St Albans, was left with a two-inch scar on her inner thigh after the accident in the car
THE appeal for south-west based Watford fans to join together to form a supporters' branch has been successful. Thirty-five fans got in touch and 13 paid-up members have joined the branch. Their next meeting is on Wednesday August 19 at The Plough, Easton
A DOCTOR who received a life-saving heart transplant operation has teamed up with the organ donor to raise money for Harefield Hospital. Dr Michael Dyer, 64, who treated patients from his Abbots Langley practice for more than 25 years, is one of very
THE first fun day to be held at Garston's Orbital Community Centre for several years has been billed as a resounding success. Organisers of the event, held in the car park of the centre in Haines Way, were delighted that at least 200 people came through
WATFORD were poised last night to complete a trio of transfer deals, parting company with three strikers. Nathan Lowndes joined St Johnstone in a £50,000 deal; Dai Thomas was set, subject to a medical, to move to Cardiff for a £50,000 fee and Jason Lee
A YOUNG girl who awoke in the early hours of the morning to find her bedroom alight probably saved the lives of her family, say firefighters. Alexandra Baker, nine, was sharing the room with her brother, Damien, six, and friend, Gemma Beaumont, 11, when
with Harpenden Karate Club, which meets every Wednesday at Harpenden Public Halls, Southdown Road, Harpenden.> Today August 19 Karate with Harpenden Karate Club, which meets every Wednesday at Harpenden Public Halls, Southdown Road, Harpenden. Children's
ENTERTAINMENT for youngsters continues this month at Christopher Place shopping centre in St Albans. A slippery character who goes by the name of Mr Fish will amuse youngsters with his mind-boggling magic, games, juggling and balloon modelling today (
WE'VE all heard of the Magic Roundabout - but the Magic Sofa? That's stretching our psychedelic powers a bit, surely. Apparently not. The Magic Sofa is not a surreal television programme best appreciated from the psychedelic maelstrom of madness that
AS temperatures soared into the 90's in central St Albans last Tuesday, we were treated to a spectacular trumpet fanfare by well-known local professional trumpeter Derek Glendinning and his talented son, Thomas. The Glendinning family can boast a 60-year
THERE will be fun and games for all the family at the first-ever St Julians Festival in St Albans on the Bank Holiday weekend. The festival, which has been organised by the King Offa pub in Wallingford Walk, includes live music, a bouncy castle for children
IF you've ever felt the urge to leap out of a plane, the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust wants to hear from you. The trust offers adventurous individuals the chance to make a sponsored parachute jump or tandem skydive, with proceeds going towards leukaemia
