With occasional warm spells giving a foretaste of spring, the thought of cricket on the village green sometimes intrudes, even though the wind may still be cold.

Many a schoolboy would give his ears for a bat which is being sold to the highest bidder to raise funds for the Watford Unit of the Sea Cadets.

It is autographed by the Australian team which visited us in 1948. Among other illustrious names are those of D. Compton and Sir Donald Bradman, and this is believed to have been the last bat signed by him.

At the moment Miss Lilley, hon. secretary of the unit, informs me the bat is in safe hands – those of Mr W.D. Lang of Barclays Bank, High Street branch. Later it will be on view for prospective bidders.

[From the Watford Observer of March 7, 1952]

 

Some Class III roads in the county are only resurfaced every 38 years, and even the more important of the Class II roads get resurfaced only once every 17 years.

In a report which will be presented to Herts County Council on Tuesday, the county Highways Committee states: “The average life of surfacing material which can be laid on these roads is only 15 years even when it is regularly surface dressed.

“This, together with the increase of traffic, is the cause of the greater number of potholes and the channel disintegration seen on many of our roads now.”

[From the Watford Observer of March 3, 1967]

 

Watford’s free Christmas shopperbus service drew thousands of extra customers into the town’s shops, a survey has revealed.

Over a quarter of the 23,000 passengers who used the coaches – ferrying people between Watford Junction station and the town centre – said the only reason they shopped in Watford was because of the free service.

Now, traders who heard their tills ringing at a record rate last year are to be asked to give money to help pay for the scheme this Christmas.

As well as bringing extra trade into the town, the shopperbus service also helps keep traffic from the town centre. Almost 80 per cent of the service’s passengers drove into Watford but left their cars at the large Junction station car park, the survey showed.

[From the Watford Observer of March 4, 1977]

 

A leaflet on Aids is to be put through every letter box in Watford by the borough council.

The leaflet, to be called Aids and Watford, warns of the dangers of catching the killer disease. It also aims to dispel the many myths that surround it.

For instance, it says people cannot catch Aids from a swimming pool or from kissing.

The Environmental Health Committee decided on the Watford-wide drop at its Tuesday meeting. This will mean printing 28,000 leaflets at a cost of £700.

Originally the council had intended just 1,000 leaflets for public buildings. However, an Aids working party recommended the increase.

[From the Watford Observer of March 25, 1988]