Archive
-
Date
'It don't matter if your black or white'
After watching a two part documentary on Channel Four the other night named 'Bleach, Nip, Tuck: The White Beauty Myth' I was absolutely appalled. Today it is the norm to be unhappy with yourself and to strive to look differently. A smaller
-
Date
Parish councillors to clear blockage
A blocked ladies toilet in the Kings Langley’s parish hall in Charter Court has caused a further stink for parish councillors. At a meeting on Tuesday evening, parish clerk Paul Dunham informed councillors that they may have to dip into their
-
Date
Postal strikes called off
Planned postal strikes for Friday and Monday have been called off, a source within the Communication Workers Union (CWU)has confirmed. The third round of nationwide strike action by members of the CWU is unlikely to be the last unless an agreement
-
Date
'Our good will has been used against us' say Kings Langley firm
Owners of a fencing firm from Kings Langley are warning fellow traders to be wary of buyers paying for goods over the phone. IPS fencing, based in Toms Lane, had two orders placed with them in September, for fencing supplies, totalling £5,000
-
Date
Rise in sexually transmitted infections prompts new centre
A “66 per cent rise in the number of sexually transmitted infections in the UK” has prompted the opening of a new service for Radlett residents today. Despite representing only 12 per cent of the population, young people aged 16–24 have the
-
Date
Radlett bucks recession trend
Vacancy rates in high street shops trebled in the first six months of the year but Radlett is going its own way and has seen a splurge of new shop ownership, according to a shop owner who used to be an analysist. Analysts Experian predict
-
Date
Handel's Water Music, English Classical Players at Watford Colosseum****
When my teacher discussed Handel's Water Music with me, more years ago than I care to remember, he was talking about the lugubrious arrangement by Sir Hamilton Harty, often played at that time. With his own orchestra, he had chosen much faster speeds,
-
Date
Kids score at school rugby tournament
Primary school pupils from across Watford faced each other on the rugby pitch this afternoon during a tournament designed to introduce them to the sport. The event, hosted by Watford Rugby Club, saw 160 boys and girls from 16 schools play each
-
Date
Mosaic at the Church of St. Michael and All Angels****
We owe a debt to Mosaic - a choir founded in south Hertfordshire a few years ago - and their Director, Nicholas Robinson, for providing, for its first appearance in Watford on Saturday, October 17, an anthology of mainly 19th-Century French religious
-
Date
Funeral for a Friend at The Forum*****
Hertfordshire was rocked into life when Funeral for a Friend descended upon The Forum in Hatfield. The University of Hertfordshire's newest live music venue played host to a triple bill, opening with promising Brighton-based band Telegraphs, who were
-
Date
Britain's Got Talent winners Diversity to switch on Christmas lights
Dance troop Diversity, the winners of Britain's Got Talent, will switch on Watford town centre's Christmas lights next week. The ten-member group will join Watford FC and Saracens players and event host Jeff Brazier, from GMTV, to usher
-
Date
Support group celebrate 30th birthday
The Hemel Hempstead and Watford Group of the National Association of Colitis and Crohn’s celebrated NACC’s 30th birthday on Saturday, October 31 at Watford General Hospital. Dr Rakesh Chaudhary, one of the team of Consultant Gastroenerologists
-
Date
Historians to learn about 'extraordinary man'
Historians will learn about the life of an “extraordinary local gentleman” at the next meeting of the South West Herts Archaeological and Historical Society. Michael Stanyon, an archivist for the Apsley Paper Trail, will lead a talk about Sir John Evans
-
Date
Disabled access information brought online
Hertfordshire’s NHS Trusts have signed up to a new website which gives information to the disabled about access and physical suitability of healthcare services. By visiting www.disabledgo.com users can find for free a dentist with a step-free access
-
Date
Bar refused longer opening hours
A bar in Watford has been refused permission to extend its opening hours. Walkabout, in The Parade, had applied to vary their closing hours from 1am to 3am on Friday mornings, from 2.30am to 3am on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and from 1.30am
-
Date
Parish councillors consider rebranding village
Parish councillors are considering rebranding Kings Langley to make it more attractive to visitors. At a meeting of the parish council on Tuesday, shopowner Jeff Folkins asked attending councillors whether it would be possible to add decorative
-
Date
Conservative sells poppies from Watford High Street office
Richard Harrington, prospective Conservative MP for Watford will be selling poppies for the British Royal Legion ahead of Remembrance Day Sunday. This is part of what he calls a “raft of campaigns” to honour and show thanks for British forces
-
Date
Drug offences rise in Kings Langley
Drug crime in Kings Langley has risen a whopping 700 per cent, according to figures provided by Hertfordshire police. At a Kings Langley parish council meeting on Tuesday evening, PC Nik Pringle revealed that drug offences had risen from one
-
Date
Children in Need of more places like Watford
Watford has been named as one of the most dedicated donators to BBC Children in Need. A survey carried out by Asda showed 66.7 percent of Watford people donate to the charity. Hertfordshire was also revelled as one of the top regions in the UK
-
Date
Remembrance Day service to be held at All Saints Church
A Remembrance Day service to commemorate men and women killed during the two World Wars and other conflicts is to be held. Visitors are welcomed this Sunday, November 8, to All Saints Church in Kings Langley, from 3pm, to remember the brave
-
Date
Babycare clothing star to meet fans
George, the star of Marks and Spencer's new nursery and babycare range designed by My Unusual Friends author and illustrator Sally Hunter, will meet his fans this weekend. He will be joined by Sally at the Watford Harlequin Centre store from 1pm on Saturday
-
Date
Weight Loss Plateau
There is so much conflicting information out there on the best way to loose weight. We are bombared with junk email on weight loss pills, supplements etc – even huge sports nutrition companies are pumping out the energy drinks with a “burner” in it!!
-
Date
Who is championing vestiges of yesterday, Dorothy?
WHEN a friend dies, even if he is a few years older than you, there is a tendency to be reminded rather sharply of your own mortality. That happened when my pal, Watford Observer cartoonist Terry Challis passed away last month. I became
-
Date
Former Watford MEP admits fiddling thousands
A former policeman who represented Hertfordshire in the European Parliament until May faces jail after admitting fiddling £36,000 in expenses. Tom Wise, 61, from Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire, changed his pleas to charges of false accounting
-
Date
'Northwood Six' face charges for peaceful protest
Peace activists protested on the steps of Watford Magistrates Court yesterday, as fellow demonstrators appeared in the dock. Inside a group named Northwood Six faced charges for their part in the “Die-in” protest, which saw the road outside the military
-
Date
Paul Daniels likes Steve’s sausages ‘a lot’
A butcher impressed judges including magician Paul Daniels with his sausages to be crowned the London region winner in The Hunt for Britain’s Magical Bangers. Steve Blake, who runs Chris Blake Butchers in High Street, Rickmansworth, won a competitive
-
Date
Railway services resume
Train services have been resumed this afternoon after police freed a lorry stuck under a railway bridge. The line was temporarily closed while police officers removed the HGV vehicle that had hit a bridge over Orphanage Road, close to Woodford
-
Date
Thieves break through football club roof
A football club which provides voluntary football coaching to youths in the area has been targeted again by thieves. Evergreen Football Club, on South Way, Abbots Langley, was broken into via the roof on Wednesday morning, between 12.30pm and
-
Date
Stuck lorry rescue underway
The tyres of a lorry stuck under a railway bridge have been let down to try and free the vehicle, police have said. An HGV lorry became stuck under the bridge in Orphanage Road, close to Woodford Road, at 11.44am. Police were called to the scene, while
-
Date
Cowie keeps Scotland place
Don Cowie has retained his place in the Scotland squad for next week’s friendly with Wales. Cowie recieved his first call-up against Japan last month after injuries decimated George Burley’s squad. But former Inverness midfielder Cowie
-
Date
Charity bid for European cash grant
A charity in South Oxhey will bid for a European grant to grow its new community allotment. Ascend, which provides training and educational opportunities for people in south-west Hertfordshire, will use its allotment as a base to teach residents
-
Date
Lorry hits railway bridge
A lorry has become stuck after hitting a railway bridge in Watford. The HGV vehicle struck the bridge over Orphanage Road, close to the junction with Woodford Road, at about 11.44am. Police have arrived at the scene, close to Watford Junction station
-
Date
Students take part in a spooky sleepover
Generous children from Francis Combe Academy have held a spooky sleepover in order to raise money for disadvantaged children in Africa. Kenya charity was set up by a parent from Bedmond school, Esther Muoso, after she saw first-hand the struggle
-
Date
Bushey car which belonged to 'the Queen and Winston Churchill' finds new home
Bushey waved a sad farewell to one of its most famous residents this week. A 1950s Daimler DE36 Limousine which has been parked at 42 Chalk Hill for “40 to 50 years” was dragged out of the drive on its flat tyres and seized axles. The
-
Date
Brinton asks town to remember serving soldiers
Sal Brinton, Liberal Democrat prospective MP for Watford is asking people to remember our troops currently out in Afghanistan this Remembrance Day. The Royal Anglians which includes personnel from Watford and Hertfordshire have members of the
-
Date
Teens avoid jail for Cassiobury Park robbery
Two teenagers involved in a knifepoint robbery in Cassiobury Park have been given supervision orders. Rhys Bannister, 18, was enjoying himself in the Watford park with friends when a 16-year-old from another group of youths began throwing stones
-
Date
'Social workers failing Hertfordshire children'
Allegations of abuse were left for six months without proper review, while others were assessed by unqualified staff, an investigation of childcare in Hertfordshire has revealed. Hertfordshire County Council's childcare system had a surprise
-
Date
Traffic gridlock causes chaos for residents
Traffic was brought to a standstill in Abbots Langley yesterday as the High Street was closed for a funeral at St Lawrence Church. Motorists were redirected from the High Street and around the narrow bends of The Crescent by police officers
-
Date
Schoolgirl tells court of sexual assault at bus stop
A schoolgirl was sexually assaulted at a Watford bus stop by a man who had offered her £200 to do modelling work, a jury was told. The 14-year-old girl was stepping onto a bus in the High Street to go to school when she was molested by a man
-
Date
Collect free kitchen caddy
Environmentally friendly Watford residents can collect a free kitchen caddy to help them recycle their food waste. Watford Borough Council's recycling team will be in Charter Place to hand out the caddies between 10am and 1pm on Tuesday,
-
Date
Children go to work
Children across the country will go to work as part of 11 Million Takeover Day. Takeover Day, which takes place tomorrow (Friday), is a national event where young people “take over” jobs, swap roles and work alongside adults in schools, police
-
Date
Lambert Smith Hampton reports housing market upswing
Research published by national commercial property consultant, Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH), of Grosvenor Road, St Albans, signals that the property market may be recovering from one of the sharpest downturns ever experienced. The results
-
Date
Foundations laid for church centre
The foundations are being laid for a new church on the former Watford Springs swimming pool site in central Watford. Watford Community Church won planning permission to build a two-and-a-half storey church centre with an auditorium, café, training
-
Date
Business Link offers struggling publicans financial lifeline
Following the success of Business Link’s ‘Open for Business’ pub support campaign in March, EEDA has this week announced additional funding to help ailing pubs in the East of England. Accessed once again through Business Link in conjunction with a
-
Date
Abbots Langley children's centre could face closure
A number of children’s respite centres in Hertfordshire could face closure in the coming months. Herts County Council is currently reviewing the services offered by children’s centres in Adrian Road in Abbots Langley, Woolmer Drive in Hemel
-
Date
Charity auction for firefighters' charity
Tickets have sold out for a charity night organised by a Garston firefighter. Neville White, who is based at the station in St Albans Road, is aiming to raise more than £2,000 for The Firefighters Charity and Help For Heroes. During