Paper 'shredathon' in aid of charity (From Watford Observer)

W.H. Humphreys & Son Ltd hold paper 'shredathon' in aid of the Peace Hospice

5:00pm Thursday 24th January 2013 in News By Frazer Ansell

(Left to right) Rachel Flower, Glynn Humphreys, Lisa Ricketts, Richard Walters and Rob Anderson

A company in West Watford is shredding and recycling confidential documents in order to raise money for the Peace Hospice.

W.H. Humphreys & Son Ltd of Sydney Road is shredding documents for members of the public and companies free of their usual charge, but is instead asking for donations to the hospice.

The "shredathon" has run throughout this week but those with documents to dispose of can still make a donation tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday.

Humphreys has traded in the town for 95 years and from its current location for 73 years.

William Henry Humphreys, current Chairman Glynn Humphreys' grandfather, began trading in 1918 transporting by handcart goods such as coal, turfs and even gravestones around Watford.

He was one of the team of turf cutters that laid the original pitch in Vicarage Road for Watford FC.

The business grew and the handcart gave way to a horse and cart, the stables for which can still be seen next to the Yellow and Red Lion pub in Vicarage Road opposite the stadium.

The horse and cart was replaced by a steam lorry, one of the first to be seen in the area.

Under the leadership of his son Horace Humphreys the growing fleet of lorries became a familiar sight on Britain’s roads in the post war years. The company serviced the needs of Watford’s ever growing print industry, as well as domestic, office and international removals. Services which it still offers to this day.

In 1986 Humphreys Data Management Ltd was created by the current Chairman Glynn Humphreys.

This separate company was created to look after the archives, storage and retrieval of current documents, plus also the secure shredding of old documents for clients.

A recent development of the company is the adoption of the Scan on Demand trademark meaning clients can retrieve and store documents via the internet.

A Humphreys spokesman said: "The Chairman and the Board of Directors are very proud of our links within the Watford area, in particular the association with the Peace Hospice.

"As well as our first shredathon held in 2011, staff members have also taken part in the Pedal for Peace, and marshalling on the Starlight Walk. As well as the Humphreys Quiz Team which participates in fund raising evening events for the Peace Hospice."