Birds of a feather . . . runs the adage, and the members of the Handlebar Club, all sporting fierce moustaches, are never happier than when in each other’s company.

Founder member and sports captain Mr A. G. H. (“Jeep”) Ormsby, of Loates Lane, Watford, rejoiced, therefore, when on Tuesday he received a visit from Bill (“Raff”) Hooper (originator of Pilot Officer Prune).

“Don’t call it ‘face fungus’ old boy,” said Hooper, when attention was drawn to the appendage on his upper lip. “That’s outmoded – facial flock, mouth moss, beak boscage or lip lichen are the terms to use.”

[From the Watford Observer of September 23, 1949]

For more stories from the Watford Observer’s archive, go to our Nostalgia section by clicking HERE