Far away on the Indo-Burma front, a Watford man – Sgt P. H., who lives in Park Road, was recently introduced to Lord Louis Mountbatten, who, with a party of generals, air marshals, air vice-marshals, and other high-ranking officers, was making a tour. The sergeant’s thoughts were evidently focused on home for, with almost his first words, he asked Lord Louis: “Is Watford still there, sir?”

“It most certainly is,” replied Lord Louis, “and is likely to remain so!”

[From the Watford Observer of February 18, 1944]

The circus that visited Cassiobury Park last year was probably the last one ever to be given permission to perform in Watford. The new council, Watford District, is to be asked to consider banning any circus from playing within the area, on council-owned land. Councillor Jack Elliott said he had the misfortune to visit the circus last year. “They had performing pigs, the whole thing was distasteful.”

[From the Watford Observer of February 1, 1974]

Two goalkeepers in the West Herts League must have suffered from backache at the finish of their matches for between them they picked the ball out of the net no fewer than 44 times. The Watford Co-Op lost to Watford Orient in the Mid-week League by 23 clear goals, and Bushey United Reserves had 21 goals scored against them by Leavesden Reserves.

[From the Watford Observer of February 23, 1935]

Emergency steps were taken on Saturday afternoon to prevent part of Watford High Street from caving in.

The danger arose when the roof of a tunnel, which was being cut from the site of the old “King’s Head” to join up with a sewer, gave way. Mr Leslie Wright, the site agent, told the Observer, the tunnel was within 18in of the sewer when the fall occurred. Had a heavy vehicle gone over this section of the road at the time, it might have resulted in a disaster.

[From the Watford Observer of February 9, 1962]

One of the big surprises of Saturday’s F.A. Cup tie was the ease with which the record 32,419 crowd was accommodated at Vicarage Road. This was an increase of almost 5,000 over the previous record (27,461 when Watford played Luton Town in 1936-37) but there was no overcrowding. Indeed there was enough open space, particularly at the “Rookery” end, to suggest that several thousand more people could have been accommodated.

[From the Watford Observer of February 3, 1950]

NOSTALGIA NOTE: The game mentioned above was a Fourth Round FA Cup tie against Manchester United, which Watford lost 1-0, although were unlucky to do so. The Sunday Dispatch described Watford as “a revelation” adding: “United will not have a harder tussle even if they go to Wembley” while the Sunday Times said: “The Cup favourites are not likely to forget their tie with Watford in a hurry.” That day’s record attendance stood for a while but the current record stands with another FA Cup Fourth Round tie, also against Man United but in February 1969. The official attendance that day was 34,099.

These stories conclude the Nostalgia column first published in the Watford Observer on February 21, 2014. The next Nostalgia column – with information on Sunday opening [or not] for Watford cinemas, the new Garston rail station in 1966 plus a picture of R2-D2 actor Kenny Baker at the cinema to see the film with his family in 1978, among many other things, – 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