EVEN if they have not written to say so, I have little doubt that many local residents will remember Buttery's the Butchers, which was in The Parade at the top end of Watford High Street, to the left of the Gaumont cinema (later the Odeon).

Though the name can be found there no more, it is recorded for posterity, for another reason, in another place in the town.

Half a century ago Mr Buttery was a churchwarden at Watford Parish Church (St Mary's). I can still recall the sound his heavy tread going up and down the centre aisle during the service, together with the other churchwarden Mr Dale.

To mark the end of the Second World War, the bellringers rang a full peal of Superlative Surprise Major on the eight bells in the church tower on VJ Day (August 15, 1945). It was only the 28th full peal since 1751, when the first was rung at St Mary's.

Being a very special occasion to celebrate, a board was put up on the wall to commemorate the event and, as is the usual custom, at the bottom of the board were included the names of the churchwardens of the time: H S Dale and J N Buttery.

I happened to be in the church on November 12, 2002, when visitors from somewhere in East Anglia came in.

The more elderly of them was the son of the aforementioned Mr Buttery. He and the relatives with him seemed to know the family name was recorded somewhere, and I was delighted to be able to take them up to the ringing chamber to see the peal board, which they photographed for their own family records.

Occasionally St Mary's has a "music, tea and tower day" when, among other things, any interested person can see the board with Mr Buttery's name on it. The next such days will be Saturday, September 13.

MR RAY SMITH, of 33 Hampermill Lane, Oxhey, Watford

May 6, 2003 13:30