This summer, local meets global as two of Watford’s biggest arts festivals – Watford Live! and Imagine Watford – come together for a month of extraordinary live experiences. Here’s just some of what’s going on this June, writes Rosy Moorhead 8
An inspection of Watford General by an independent regulator has found staff are affected by a high level of vacancies but patient care is "kind and compassionate". The Care Quality Commission (CQC) report published today revealed the hospital's
Members of Watford Screwfix went the extra mile for charity this week by taking part in a mammoth 5,500 mile national cycle relay. The team took part in Tour de Screwfix on Wednesday, May 20 to raise money for The Screwfix Foundation, a charity
A journalist from Watford paid a police officer more than £20,000 during a "long term corrupt relationship". Anthony France, of Diamond Road, Watford, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office at the Old Bailey today
Each week we delve deep into our archives to bring you a selection of images taken in and around Watford by our staff photographers throughout the decades. We would love to hear from you if you are in any of these pictures. This week we take you back
Despite the popular park cafe being closed, the council are expecting a large turnout tomorrow for the opening of the pool. Families in Bushey will be hoping for some sunshine this bank holiday weekend as the King George Recreation Ground’s paddling
Police investigating the assault on Watford fan Nic Cruwys are continuing to appeal for a man featured in a CCTV image after someone came forward earlier this week. The image was released on Monday and officers believed they had a strong lead when
A lane will be closed on a major Rickmansworth roundabout for almost two weeks as workmen install scaffolding around the former Comet headquarters. Three Rivers District Council has been told the developers want to turn Swan House, formerly known
Hilton Worldwide’s corporate team visited Watford UTC this week to talk to pupils about careers available in the hospitality industry. Careers@Hilton Live: Youth in Hospitality events aim to inspire those looking for employment about careers in
A new head of Hertfordshire’s Special Constabulary has been appointed to lead the county’s team of volunteer police officers. Chief Inspector Damien Kennedy has taken over the role from Chief Inspector Carl Foster – who has moved on to lead the
A charity golf challenge is being held at The Grove in Watford. The golfers will be competing in the Macmillan Cancer Support Longest Golf Day Challenge, to complete 72 holes of golf in one day - approximately 20 miles and more than 1000 combined
Customers in selected stores across the county will pick up more than their shopping on visits to certain stores over the next few weeks. Domestic abuse awareness messages will appear on receipts at all Hertfordshire stores of Homebase, Argos and
This is the home kit Watford will be wearing in the Premier League. The kit is again manufactured by Puma and carries the logo of sponsor 138.com and while the shirt is based on the Hornets' traditional yellow look, it features black horizontal
Councillors deferred their decision on whether to approve plans for a new Hare Krishna temple in Aldenham. Bhaktivedanta Manor, in Hillfield Lane, submitted a planning application to Hertsmere Borough Council to build a two-storey 'Haveli'.
When we purchased our house in The Tarn three years ago, not only had we noted the garden was divided by a five-foot-high stone wall but the wall, which ran from the house down to the bottom of the garden, had something in the region of a 12 degree
A national bed retailer is set to open its first homeware store in Watford. Dreams has partnered with homeware company Sabichi to open the Dreams At Home store in Colne Valley Retail Park today. Jeremy Gerken, retail director at Dreams, said
Back in May 1990, one subject filling our newspapers was Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), better known as Mad Cow Disease. Everybody must remember the then Minister of Agriculture John Selwyn Gummer trying to feed his four-year-old daughter
A new Mayor of Dacorum was appointed at the annual inauguration ceremony this week. Councillor Gbola Adeleke became the new mayor at the event which was held at Hemel Hempstead Civic Centre on Wednesday, May 20. The event was attended by former
A Watford playgroup for children with physical needs has won an award. Playskill, a registered charity, was given the award by Hertfordshire-wide agency for children and young people Pro Action. Pro Action nominated Playskill as member of the
A mental health facility near Radlett run by Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust has won a national award. The £42 million Kingfisher Court, on the Kingsley Green site, won Project of the Year at the Design in Mental Health
Thomas Heurtaux has become the first Udinese player to be linked with a move to Watford since their promotion to the Premier League, with reports claiming the Hornets are the “likely destination” for the French defender. According to Tuttomercatoweb.com
Streetlights will be upgraded in Three Rivers, council chiefs have confirmed. Hertfordshire County Council and Ringway have come under fire after a number of faulty lights were reported during the winter months. They said the changing of lights
A woman "trapped" in her home after a horror illness left her wheelchair bound has slammed councils for the way they have handled her plea to be rehoused. Kristyanne Martin, of Sparrows Herne, Bushey, applied to Hertsmere Borough Council and Watford
It was my favourite story as a child and my cherished copy of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid with its blurry, ethereal illustrations by Chihiro Iwasaki remains on the shelf. Yet for all its otherworldliness, this tale of love, loss
Carpenders Park representative Eric Bishop has been selected as the new chairman of Three Rivers District Council. Councillor Bishop, who represents Carpenders Park at the council, was elected as the chairman of the council at a council meeting
Watford children have tried hockey and tennis for free at a London 2012 venue. Pupils from Bromet Primary School, Orchard Primary School and Divine Saviour Catholic Primary School enjoyed free hockey and tennis coaching sessions along with 500
How do you plan a programme to include Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony? The answer, adopted by the Watford Symphony Orchestra for this concert, is to tackle this great work at the start. It is on a large scale, but because Schubert did not complete
Watford's annual celebration of diversity in the town will be held on Bank Holiday Monday. Ethnic, faith and charitable groups are set to showcase and share each other's music, dance, drama, costumes and food during Watford Celebration 2015, which
Police are appealing for witnesses after a man in his 40s sustained a fractured eye socket during an alleged assault in Watford. Police said at around 11am on Friday, May 15, two men were in a verbal altercation in Westland Road and it is alleged
A great grandmother who was "well respected and loved" by the Bushey community has died. Freda Brown, who once ran the green grocers in the High Street and in Herkomer Road, passed away on Wednesday, May 13. The 86-year-old was diagnosed with
Regional Division A West Chipperfield Clarendon Thirds were roundly beaten at Parkfield and Headstone Seconds, losing by 114 runs. The visitors won the toss and elected to field but could not repeat their previous week’s wicket-taking heroics
Columns a tad longer than usual this week so you might want an extra-large cuppa? I’ve sat for over an hour trying to find the right words to start; but there are no right words. Something happened that has changed my families life forever. I’m uncomfortable
Watford Borough Council’s new chairman has revealed the charities she will support in her 12 months in the hot seat. Councillor Kareen Hastrick will raise funds for Watford New Hop and the Watford Food Bank during her tenure as chairman. She
The shop closing day issue in Watford was thrown right into the laps of the traders by two speakers at the Chamber of Commerce Festival luncheon on Wednesday. “If we are to survive, let alone flourish, as a shopping centre, we cannot afford to
Division Seven B Bushey Seconds got their season underway with a 108-run trouncing of Ware; Anil Kumar claiming four wickets for just 17 runs. Inserted, Bushey set the tone with 65 from Sagheer Ahmed and a further 72 from Chanaka Gunawardena
The Pozzo family have invested around £20 million into the Hornets since their takeover three years ago, the Watford Observer understands. The Italians, who also own Serie A side Udinese and La Liga’s Granada, bought the club from Laurence Bassini
Against a backdrop of crumbling dynasties and ancient temples, mesmerising battles between mighty kingdoms play out – and Krishna, the avatar of the supreme god Vishnu, is born. Experience the spectacular birth of Krishna, in Mathura, be magically
