Two men, two women and two girls were hurt, and many more people narrowly escaped injury, when a horse drawing an Express Dairy milk float in Watford’s Whit Monday Carnival procession took fright and bolted.

On the long route from Harebreaks, down St Albans Road, along Clarendon Road, High Street and Rickmansworth Road, Taffy, the Welsh cob, sometimes looked restive at the repeated stopping and starting.

At last, in Cassiobury Park Avenue, with the main procession turning left down Swiss Avenue, Taffy seized the opportunity of a clear space ahead and took the bit between his teeth.

Despite strenuous efforts the driver of the float, 18-year-old Michael Ridley, could not curb the runaway Taffy.

Zig-zagging down the Avenue the float headed for a spectator-thronged traffic island. Women and children screamed with fright. Fortunately, the wheels caught the kerb and saved horse and float from plunging straight into the crowd, but not before several people were kicked by Taffy’s flying hooves.

At the T-junction, formed by Gade Avenue, horse and float charged straight through the sightseers on the pavement, through the gate and into the garden of number 10. There, a lady and her mother were severely kicked and as Taffy was forced to a halt, the driver was shot fom his driving seat and fell on his head.

One of those standing on the Gade Avenue pavement was Mr J. F. Chowns, of Wilcot Avenue, Watford, who gave the “Observer” a vivid eyewitness account of Taffy’s terrifying dash.

He also paid high tribute to the young driver of the float for his courage in trying to keep control and is convinced his efforts prevented casualties being heavier.

Three ambulances were soon on the scene and the six casualties were taken to Watford Peace Memorial Hospital. One of the injured was detained with head injuries and another with leg injuries. The other four were discharged after treatment.

As for Taffy, he was little the worse for his adventure. An official of the dairy company said the horse was one of those kept for exhibition purposes and was quite used to taking part in processions.

Some onlookers suggested Taffy did not like the jazz and other music interspersed over the procession route.

[From the Watford Observer of May 26, 1961]