A picture of glass workers published in the printed edition of the Watford Observer, and a recent question about the Watford Crystal Company, prompted Rick Hardy, of Watford, to write in: "I saw in your nostalgia column someone asking about The Watford Crystal Company. Actually the name of the company was simply The Watford Glass Company. They did not make glass. They bought lead crystal glass blanks' in from various sources (including the famous Whitefriars factory in Harrow) and had them cut in their premises in Liverpool Road, Watford.

"I worked as a glass cutter there in 1951, before I did my National Service. I was then 17 years old. I did not return to the profession after my demob'. The finished product was called Watford Crystal'.

"I know the company moved later to an industrial estate in Watford. I am pretty sure in was in the site at the rear of the Sun Engraving.

"Cut glass goes through a quite complicated process, which involves finally dipping the glass in highly corrosive acids to complete the high gloss. The fumes from these acids were blamed by the the nearby residents for killing off the plants in their gardens. I should think they were right!"