A picturesque visitor to the “Observer” office on Tuesday morning was Felix Scully Starlight, described as the “world’s greatest hiker” who is an American Indian, wearing a once yellow tunic, old Army breeches and puttees, heavy boots and a wideawake hat, around the brim of which were the words “The Great World Trotter”.

In his journeys he claims to have worn out 190 pairs of boots; to have lived for 34 days on a diet of snails; has been chased by a herd of wild elephants; slept in a jungle hut with cobras and pythons; crossed rivers infested with alligators; endured the extremes of terrific heat and a temperature 40 degrees below zero.

Arriving in Watford on Monday night, Starlight was accommodated at Shrodells.

He called at the Municipal Offices on Tuesday morning to see the mayor and Town Clerk in his endeavour to add the seal of the Borough to his interesting collection of seals of important towns through which he has passed.

So with civic wishes, “Felix” went on walking.

[From the Watford Observer of February 11, 1933]

ONLINE TOMORROW: The birthday gift that kept on giving

These stories formed part of the Nostalgia column first published in the Watford Observer on February 21, 2014. The next Nostalgia column can be found in this week’s Watford Observer (dated February 28, 2014 and available in newsagents now, priced just 90p) or read online here from 4pm on Thursday.

If you have anything to add – or would like to tell us anything you think our readers may enjoy about Watford’s history – we are always pleased to hear from you. Contact Nostalgia, by clicking here watfordnostalgia@london.newsquest.co.uk