Father’s part in an historic day

He writes: “The photograph with the BBC camera and Richard Dimbleby also contains my father, David Carter (14-year-old boy under the scoreboard).

Steve Carter spotted his father, David Carter, under the scoreboard, his uncle John Carter and grandmother Alice Carter in this picture taken in Chipperfield in 1950.

“My uncle John Carter (small boy, head showing from behind man with floppy cap) is also in the photograph, with their mother, my grandmother, Alice Carter (her head is alongside the flagpole).

“My father has often mentioned ‘his part’ in history – the televised cricket match in Chipperfield.

“We were also among the first inhabitants of Croft Meadow on the Croft Estate. I believe my parents moved in just before I was born in 1960.

“I have very fond memories of my childhood on the Croft Estate. One thing in particular stands out to me now – everyone referred to their friends’ parents as Aunty and/or Uncle.

“There were very few cars and lots of children. There was always umpteen aside football and cricket matches, which were only spoilt by the calls of ‘tea time’ from mums.

“Neighbours were reliable and dependable – ‘A cup of sugar’ from Aunty Mary next door, for example.

“My two sisters and I attended St Paul’s School. The headmaster at that time was Mr Petit. He was fairly strict but fair as I remember. He was supported by Mrs Dean and Mrs Shapton, Mrs Irvine and our dinner ladies who were generally mums from the village.

“We also had a fantastic art teacher, Mr Abbey.

“The school was attended at that time by about 80 children, from 1965 to 1971.

“We used the local Women’s Club hall as our dining room, which meant a short walk of a couple of hundred yards. I can’t seem to remember it raining.

“We attended St Paul’s Church at least once a week, if my memory serves me right. The Vicar, John Richardson, was an inspiring man.”

A Watford Observer reader who now lives in Devon spotted a picture of his stepmother in a recent edition of Nostalgia.

Bertram Frank Lintott, 84, of Seaton, wrote: “Once again I have received pages from the Watford Observer which my daughter has sent me.

Bertram Frank Lintott spotted his stepmother Eva Turner in this picture of staff at Abbots Langley Primary School.

“In the picture of the Abbots Langley Primary School staff, the person on the left of the group is my stepmother – Eva Turner.

“It must have been taken in late-1943 because my mother died in 1943 and my father married Eva in March 1944.”

Mr Lintott also sent Nostalgia a photograph of his mother, Anne Cox, née Ashby, which was taken in Popes Road, Abbots Langley, around 1920. She married Bertram Harry Lintott in 1924.

Bertram Frank Lintott sent in this picture of his mother, Anne Cox, née Ashby, taken around 1920.

“I was born into an old Abbots Langley family, one nephew still lives there. The family consisted of my mother (whose first husband, Percy Cox, was killed in World War One in 1916), a half-brother and five half-sisters.

“I myself was born in March 1925 after my mother married a World War One soldier, Harry Lintott, who came to the village in 1920.

“I went to the local school, joined the fire service as a messenger in 1939 and became a fireman, leading fireman and driver, before leaving in 1944 for Army service, where I served in Italy and Greece.

“I married a local girl, who was in the Land Army and covered Serge Hill – Joyce Scott, of Station Road.

“Her twin brother Eric served in the Army as well. Her father worked as an engineer at the Ovaltine Factory.”

Mr Lintott was born in Popes Road, and the family moved to Breakspeare Road in 1928. He lived in Old Forge Close from 1952 to 1963, and ran a building, plumbing and heating business with his father for 26 years.

He left the area in 1970, living in Bicester, Oxfordshire, and moved to Devon in 1987.

Mr Lintott has three children, one of whom lives in Chorleywood, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Another former Abbots Langley resident, Keith Miles, has also moved to Seaton, having previously lived in the village in Marlin Square.

Memories of Victoria Girls’ School and how it became Westfield School, in Tolpits Lane, Watford, have been sent to Nostalgia by former pupil Susan O’Sullivan, née Toms.

Mrs O’Sullivan, from Chippenham in Wiltshire, said: “This happened in 1973 and my class was one of the first to occupy the old Victoria Boys’ School buildings.

“Our form teacher was Mr Lund who also took us for science. I can remember his science lessons with quite a lot of amusement.

“Being 13 years old at the time, my best friend and I spent some of our science lessons sitting at the back of the class writing ‘love’ letters to our respective pop idols at the time, mine being David Cassidy and hers being Brian Connolly (the blond-haired one from Sweet).

“Unfortunately, the inevitable happened with us being caught and our letters confiscated. We were horrified at the time at the amusement that our letters must have provided for the staff room at our expense.

“One of the changes in the school following the boys’ departure was that the girls took over the boys’ changing room for swimming. This caused a few problems for us girls as it was decided by the PE staff that we should use the boys’ showers, which were of the open type.

“Of course, us girls were used to separate shower cubicles and we steadfastly refused to use the boys’ showers. The problem was resolved and our modesty preserved by us just walking through the row of showers in our bathing costumes.

“My third year at Victoria/Westfield was one of the happiest I can remember and a lot of fun before moving up to the fourth year where the ‘serious’ work (and exams) started.”

Can readers shed any light on a photograph which was handed to Nostalgia by Peter Daniell? It shows a group of 17 men standing in front of a motor coach, all with flowers in their button holes.

This picture was submitted by Peter Daniell. Does anyone recognise any of the people or the location where it was taken? Why were they all smartly dressed and wearing flowers in their buttonholes?

Can any readers identify any of these men, the location of the photograph or when it was taken? For what occasion, perhaps a wedding, were they all so smartly dressed?

With its distinct bell tower, St Mary’s Church is recognisable from a host of angles. Below a view of the church, in Watford High Street, is captured as a result of some building work that took place in 1926.

A 1926 sketch of St Mary’s Church, Watford, seen from the “George Hotel”.

The caption reads: “A Historic View of the Parish Church, Watford, Herts, from near the ‘George’ Hotel, High Street, rendered temporarily possible during rebuilding of business premises. AD 1926.”

With thanks to Watford Museum for providing the image.