South Oxhey Community Choir gathers to watch final episode of Unsung Town (From Watford Observer)

I grew up in South Oxhey and went to Warren Dell and Hampden Schools.My wife went to Woodhall. We watched the whole series of 'The Choir' and enjoyed it so much.Although we left the estate some 30 years back we have always had good memories of the place.All the members of the South Oxhey choir made us feel so proud. You were all fantastic!.Well done to all of you and thankyou.Gareth Malone should be given the freedom of the borough.He was absolutely inspiring.

I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the recently concluded series "The Choir" and well played everybody who was involved!
I was educated at Little Furze Primary School for just four terms in 1953/54, before moving on to Watford Boys' GS and Bristol University. We lived on the edge of the estate, at 314 Hayling Road, but my personal involvement in the local community did not really commence until January 1962 and a posting as a supply teacher at Clarendon Secondary School.

My opinion is that there has always been talent in South Oxhey and this fact was exemplified by the high standard of the Clarendon School Band under the inspirational leadership of Roger Elliott. The many Welsh men and women who taught at the school in the 1950s and 1960s would have provided the excellent Gareth Malone with a ready supply of able choristers. What a shame that the school was merged with Hampden in 1967 and closure eventually followed in 1989, so the estate lost its only secondary school.

Despite moving away from the area in the mid-sixties, I have kept in regular touch with Watford/South Oxhey, not least in a detailed visit to the former LCC housing estate during the preparation of a report on the former Oxhey Golf Course (1912-1952), which became a valuable stretch of open space referred to as the Oxhey Playing Fields. I spent many happy hours there and began a long cricket career, on the lower end of the grounds, playing for Little Furze PS. Sadly, this school no longer exists, but for a time in the fifties it was the best primary school on the estate, with healthy numbers passing the 11+ and progressing on to the many selective schools in the Watford area, in addition to winning the Watford Schools' League in 1953/4, under the enthusiastic guidance of teacher Ron Gore.

I hope to back in the near future and perhaps I will have the opportunity of attending the Christmas Concert in the Watford Colosseum.

John Swain, retired geographer and amateur Irish rail historian.