First on the Radlett Centre stage

Capt Sutherland, from Goodyers Avenue, Radlett, wrote: “First may I congratulate you on the splendid article, drawing on Philip Eastburn’s encyclopaedic knowledge of the history of Radlett. Not only was it highly informative but also stimulating for the memory, which prompts me to answer two of the questions in the factbox.

“The first show held at the Radlett Centre was the 27th Annual Music Hall of the Radlett Players, which opened on Wednesday, January 31, 1996, and ran until Saturday, February 10.

“Up to that time the music hall had been performed in the Old Radlett Hall, formerly the Civil Defence HQ and cinema – ‘Radlett’s House of Comfort’ was the title above the door for many years.

“The move to the Radlett Centre with its much bigger stage and modern facilities called for a fair degree of adjustment on the players’ part, particularly as some of the paint was still wet and no one knew where the light switches were. But we adapted and survived.

Captain Ian Sutherland spotted his father, John Sutherland, in this picture of a welcome home dinner for members of the armed forces in 1947.

“The photograph from Philip’s collection of the welcome home dinner for the armed services in 1947 was truly serendipitous for there in the middle was my father, John Sutherland.

“I suspect that this is the only occasion his face would have ever appeared in the press.

“But the coincidental fact is that he was the butler to the Millers in Newberries Mansion until 1935.

“My mother had been the Miller children’s nanny for a number of years and I was born in the mansion in 1933.

“The Nostalgia page has worked its stimulating spell once again and I am most grateful.”

Reader David Claypole-Smith emailed Nostalgia about a picture of VE Day celebrations held in Courtlands Drive, Watford.

David Claypole-Smith met up with old friends after this picture of VE celebrations in Courtlands Drive, Watford, appeared in Nostalgia a few weeks ago and put names to several of these faces.

He wrote: “I would like to thank you for including these photos in Nostalgia.

“Living in Leighton Buzzard and not getting the Watford Observer, I was surprised and pleased to get a telephone call from Christine York, née Ford, who has since put me in touch with Colin and Sheila Smith and also with her mother Mrs Evelyn Ford, who is now 93 years old and must be one of the last remaining older generation.

“Together with my wife we had afternoon tea with her and discovered a few more names that I had missed first time round. They are as follows: Lacey, Cook, Gurney, Griffen, Goss, and Lowndes. There’s probably a lot more.

“Thank you again. I am pleased that the photos stirred some memories and prompted people to make contact again.”

An unknown photograph of a group of smartly dressed men in front of a motor bus has been identified by Nostalgia reader Edith Oakley.

Edith Oakley spotted her father, Charles Goble, in this group pictured outside the Red Lion in Radlett. The outing, organised by Mr Goble, was to the Ascot Races.

Mrs Oakley, of Battlers Green Drive, Radlett, said: “What a surprise I had when I saw a picture that was familiar to me.

“This photograph was taken outside the Red Lion Hotel in Radlett.

“The outing was to Ascot Races and organised by my father, Mr Charles Goble (pictured with the sweater and cap on, fourth from the left in the front row). He was a turf accountant and was interested in the races. That’s the type of man he was.

“The names of the people I knew are Bob Bignell, Mr Pearman, Mr Sharp, Mr Goble (my dad), Mr Harrowell, Mr Tingey, Mr Franklin, and Mr York. Standing on the step of the coach is Mr Hill. In the back row are Mr Horne, Mr Joiner and Mr Tingey.

“The photograph was taken on June 30, 1929.”

Mike Mallord, from Penrose Avenue, Carpenders Park, sent Nostalgia this letter about his memories of Victoria School.

He writes: “I am the Mike Mallord that Dennis Holland referred to on the Nostalgia page recently. I also remember the other boys he mentioned and the teachers.

“Other teachers at the time were the Hard brothers, Len and John; Corker Homes, because he had an artificial leg. Also Mr Atkins and a Mr Chalners, who took the woodwork lessons.

“I also recall a lady teacher, who I think was Miss Merrell, when I first started in 1946 at the age of 11.

“At the time, I was living in Riverside Road, so I had roughly a mile to walk. Coming in from the Addiscombe Road side, we had to walk past the girls’ school before we entered the boys’. The playground separated the schools.

“My late wife Kathleen (née Couzens) often talked about our school days. She attended Langleybury. She was a very good athlete at school. She was also the captain and shooter of the netball team and she used to play against Victoria Girls and Sir James Altham in South Oxhey.

“I have many fond memories of mates at Victoria School and often wonder what has become of them.”

A question about the Rolls-Royce factory in Abbots Langley, which is now Leavesden Studios, prompted an email from Suzanne Eglinton.

Mrs Eglinton said: “I am writing to you to tell you that I have a family member who used to work for Rolls-Royce back in the early 1960s.

“But it wasn’t just called Rolls-Royce. It had two other names, which were Bristol Siddeleys, then it was taken over by de Havillands, until it was finally called Rolls-Royce.

“My family member who worked for all three firm names was my dad, Thomas Carlisle.

“He started working there in 1962 and worked right up to 1987 when he took early retirement through ill-health reasons.

“He used to work in the factory on the blade forging section. I used to like him working for Rolls-Royce as I can remember the weekends we used to go to the social clubhouse for the entertainment they put on for the families who worked for the firm. The fields across the way from the club was where they had sports days for the kids to win medals in the summertime.

“At Christmastime they used to have pantomimes put on for the kids and the adults had to book their child in for them to see it and get a present at the end of the show.

“I can remember getting a paint-by-numbers set as my gift. I liked Rolls-Royce very much when I was growing up.”