JIM BRATTEN, of Great Yarmouth, called the Nostalgia Hotline to relate his memories of the Christmas zoo, which was housed in the basement of Cawdell's store in Watford. Jim worked as an attendant there during the school holidays around 1952, while he was a pupil at Watford Grammar School.

He explained: "I stood there in a white coat making sure everyone was in line." Jim cannot recall exactly what he was paid for this, but believes it may have been about half a crown a day. He remembers the zoo had small monkeys and became quite hot and smelly. He also remembers that Father Christmas would ride through the town centre in a horse-drawn coach, which was an exciting annual event. Do any other readers have memories or pictures of this, or any other Christmas event?

Jim went on to study photography at Watford Technical College and did Christmas holiday work at the Post Office. He remembers that the Drill Hall was used as a temporary parcel sorting centre.

He recalls many of Watford's cinemas: The Gaumont, Odeon, Carlton, Regal, The Empire and the Plaza in north Watford. He said: "The Plaza we used to call the Flea Pit, it was a bit down-market. The Empire was notorious for French films. They were very tame but they were French and they did have subtitles. It wasn't quite Soho."

He recalls there was a lot of choice in terms of film showings to see and programmes would change in the middle of the week as well as at the weekend. Screenings were continuous, with a main picture and supporting film and it was possible to go in and out at any time. he explained: "You went in in the middle of a showing and came out again at the point where you went in. It was also our only experience of the newsreel."

Jim remembers that there was a cinema organ at the Gaumont, which rose out of the floor during intervals. It was played by a character called Tommy Dando.

Saturday cinema showings for children were "a terrific event", with serials featuring the likes of Flash Gordon, which drew young audiences back the following week. There were also competitions in the intervals; a spotlight would be trained on a random seat and whoever it fell on would win a prize.

Do any other readers have memories of going out to, or working in, the town's cinemas?