Bedmond were beaten by a goal from the referee! Fifteen minutes from time in their Division 1 game with Sandridge Rovers on Saturday, a corner was awarded against Bedmond. The referee positioned himself just inside the far post and did not move when the ball, taken by the wind, swirled towards him. He was still standing there when the ball hit his foot and shot into the net. Bedmond have a right to feel upset at this freak event because they had been playing some of their best football of the season.

[From the Watford Observer of April 11, 1969]

When Lady Rathcreedan opened the Liberal Spring fair at Boxmoor Hall, Hemel Hempstead, on Saturday, she amused those present by telling them that when she went to the pictures she hissed and booed when films of the Prime Minister [Conservative Neville Chamberlain] were shown. “I always get people to join in,” she said. “You try it. It is dark, so no one sees you!”

[From the Watford Observer of April 7, 1939]

If all goes according to plan, Douglas Fairbanks will visit Watford on June 14 to open the local 1951 Industrial Exhibition at the town hall. In a letter from his home in California to the chairman of the exhibition committee, he writes: “Only circumstances beyond my control will prevent my being there.”

[From the Watford Observer of April 6, 1951]

Watford Football Club chairman Elton John caused more than a splash when he stayed overnight at the Savoy Hotel in London last week. He forgot he had left his bath running and it overflowed into two rooms below.

Elton began running his bath, but then spent ten minutes making a transatlantic telephone call to his wife Renate who was in New York. While he was on the telephone, his bathwater overflowed, and seeped through to the two rooms below. They were occupied by American composer Marvin Hamlisch and chat show host Michael Parkinson.

Mr Parkinson and Elton were staying at the hotel while they made a live broadcast for TVam to celebrate Adam Faith’s 25 years in showbusiness.

A press officer at the Savoy said “not too much damage had been caused”. She added that Elton had offered to foot the bill but the cost was not yet known.

[From the Watford Observer of April 12, 1985]

The Palace Theatre company had a pleasant surprise on Tuesday morning, the day of the Palace’s reopening as a civic theatre. It came in the form of a telegram which read: “All good wishes for the success of the new venture tonight and in the future.” The name of the sender – Sir Laurence Olivier.

[From the Watford Observer of April 2, 1965]

At an inquest held at Watford on Tuesday, one witness was almost stone deaf and another was almost totally blind. They were brothers, but neither knew until the proceedings had ended that the other was there.

[From the Watford Observer of April 4, 1936]

These stories formed part of the Nostalgia column first published in the Watford Observer on April 4, 2014. The next Nostalgia column can be found in this week’s Watford Observer (dated April 11, 2014 and available in newsagents now, priced 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