When the West Herts Group Hospital Management Committee on Thursday approved expenditure of about £460 on an operating table and accessories for Shrodells Hospital, finance committee chairman Lieut-Colonel L.F. Smeathman observed that the present table is “wobbly, which does not seem good for an operating theatre.” It may be “some time” before it comes, he added.

Explanation is being sought as to why a carboy of phenol exploded in Watford Peace Memorial Hospital dispensary and damaged an assistant dispenser’s stockings. The stockings are being replaced, said the finance chairman.

[From the Watford Observer of May 6, 1955]

 

‘The Silent Lady’ is the name of the chief film showing this weekend at the Central Hall. The story is of the simplest, and Gretchan Redver, as the lady who retires from society to avoid scandal and who endears herself to three very lovable old gentlemen and a waif, Zoe Rae, is most charmingly natural. Charlie Chaplin, in Recreation, imparts to brick throwing and falling into water a certain freshness.

[Film fun from the Watford Observer of May 17, 1919]

NOSTALGIA NOTE: “Gretchan Redver” appears to be either a misprint or a pseudonym of Gretchen Lederer, who was born on May 23, 1891 in Cologne as Gretchen Schwallenback. The seven-minute Mack Sennett short Recreation was written by, directed by and starred Charlie Chaplin. It was originally released in 1914, just a few months after his film debut, Making a Living.

 

What is the favourite food of the 1st Watford Company of the Boys’ Brigade when out camping? – ask Cookie, Mr Ben Seems. “They eat everything we put in front of them,” he says. “We do our best to give them what we can and they have not refused anything. They are very fond of bread pudding, plum duff and porridge.”

[From the Watford Observer of May 23, 1952]

 

A competition was held in Watford on Thursday for the “worst buy”. The prize went to a baby chair with plastic tray. metal bar, and seat and waist straps all broken.

The contest took place during the meeting of the Watford and District Consumer Association.
Entries included a toaster which cooked faster on one side than the other, four babies’ vests which, when washed, were transformed into different sizes, an unopenable tin of cleaning polish and an unreliable egg timer.

[From the Watford Observer of May 3, 1968]

 

Dr C.E. Saunders, the Medical Officer of Health for Herts, in his annual sanitary report, disclosed that the estimated population of the Watford Rural Sanitary Authority district was 17,410. During the year there were 268 deaths. Of these, 49 were of children under one year of age and 94 of persons over 60. In common with many other parts of the country, diptheria has been the most fatal infectious disease of the past year.

[From the Watford Observer of May 1, 1886]

These stories conclude the Nostalgia column 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