You may recall a few weeks ago, a story in the Watford Observer about the missing heron which used to live at The Parade pond (you know, the one where football fans were dancing in last week’s Nostalgia page).

Well during my wander through the archive last week, I stumbled upon another heron story involving a zoo escapee which was causing havoc on the Cassiobury estate in 1936.

The piece, headed The Heron and the Goldfish, came complete with a line drawing of a heron, in case you were baffled by what one might look like, and appeared in the Watford Observer of May 23.

It reads: “Recently goldfish have been disappearing from garden ponds on the Cassiobury estate. They have provided fare for a night heron which it is beliveed is one of four liberated from Whipsnade Zoo; the other three have returned.

“As its name implies, this heron goes in search of food by night, after passing the day in sleep. It will be interesting to see how long the bird remains at Cassiobury where, apart from ponds, it is within easy reach of the Gade and the Canal.

“There seems only one reason why it should move – a desire to find a mate which, unfortunately, is difficult in Hertfordshire, unless another liberated specimen comes along.”

And it wasn’t only the herons who were after a mate in 1936. A story in the previous week’s paper was headed “Wanted, A Wife!”, adding the intriguing sub-heading “Watford mayor asked to help”.

It reads: “The Mayor of Watford (Councillor E. C. Last) has received a letter asking him to assist the writer in finding a wife. The letter reads:

“‘May I ask you, sir, even as a busy man, to help me in my quest. A few words to the Press from you and my want will be satisfied. I would like a wife, age about 35 years or near that age, able to play the piano, single or widow with one child not objected to. I only ask her to be fond of home and happy. A post of trust I require I cannot have unless married. May I ask you, sir, to keep my name and address secret until I am suited. I will then thank you publicly by the Press. Any batch of letters you may send to me I will refund.”

So, the quest was on for a jolly piano-playing woman (Mrs Mills sounds ideal except that, although not married to Mr Mills at that time, she was only half the required age).

You might think that would be that, and our lovelorn music lover would remain unrequited. But not a bit of it.

The following week [May 23, 1936] another stort also headed “Wanted, A Wife!” appeared in the Watford Observer, although this time with the sub-heading “Mayor forwards applications”.

It reads: “Last week, the Observer published at the request of the Mayor (Councillor E. C. Last), a letter received by him from an Eastbourne man asking for assistance in finding a wife. The writer said: ‘I would like a wife age about 35 years or near that age, able to play the piano, single or widow with one child not objected to. I only ask her to be fond of home and happy. A post of trust I require I cannot have unless married.’

“About 40 replies have been received and have been duly forwarded. His Worship, in his own words, is getting ‘a little tired’ of the matter.” Perhaps we should leave it there then. Don’t want to annoy His Worship...

From lovesick to seasick. A hundred years or so ago, the Watford Observer would often include small news items which amounted to little more than promotional items for other publications.

One such appeared in the Watford Observer of May 24, 1919, and was headed “Suggested Cure For Seasickness”.

Lifted wholesale from The Nursing Mirror (or so it appears) it reads: “Major Lemon, an American Army doctor, himself a victim to mal de mer, has been making investigations as to the cause.

“He believes the distressing symptoms are nothing to do with the stomach, but are caused by the sensation of irregular levitation in the ear.

“Accordingly, before embarking, he packed his ears with sterilised gauze and persuaded other travellers, including some nurses, to do the same.

“The result is said to have been highly satisfactory and Major Lemon has asked not to be demobilised till he is able to make further experiments.

“The remedy is so simple that we give it for the benefit of our readers. The only objection seems to be the temporary inability to hear the conversation of others.”

This column formed part of the Nostalgia pages first published in the Watford Observer on May 2, 2014. The next Nostalgia column can be found in this week’s Watford Observer (dated May 9, 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