Abbots Langley is to withdraw from the “Best Kept Village” competition this year.

A letter to Abbots Langley Parish Council from the Best Kept Village Committee states that over the past six weeks, the committee has met with “indifference, apathy and even antagonism”.

Councillor Mrs D. Pratt said at the council meeting she was appalled at the “couldn’t care less” attitude of villagers. “They just aren’t interested in making the village a bit nicer,” she remarked.

[From the Watford Observer of May 31, 1968]

 

A bus proprietor who faced the Hemel Hempstead Magistrates on an overcrowding summons was said to have squeezed 45 passengers into a 20-seater bus. The magistrates retaliated by squeezing £4 out of the bus proprietor.

[From the Watford Observer of May 26, 1934]

 

Anyone who has not seen “Mr Pim Passes By” at the Palace theatre this week, should do so, for they will find it a delightful three-act comedy full of neat dialogue about all sorts of things including pigs, curtains and bigamy.

Apparently there is no relation whatever between these things but in the play, each has a very subtle influence on the other and what the author would have done without the curtains one can scarcely imagine.

[From the Watford Observer of May 21, 1921]

 

With a time of 14.8 seconds, Watford builder’s labourer Paddy Farrell easily beat his nearest rival in the finals of the Festival Yard of Ale competition at the Green Man on Friday night.

Nine years ago, to the exact week, Paddy did even better when he knocked back two 2½-pint “yards” each in under 12 seconds.

Immediately afterwards he was banging on the bar for another pint, a friend said on Friday.

His time at the Green Man was down a little but was still three seconds better than that of runner up Dave Gawron, of Croxley Green.

For his win, Paddy received a cheque for £15 from Ind Coope, who also supplied the beer. Dave won a tenner.

Presenting the cheques, Mrs Gladys Johnston, landlady at the Green Man, said: “Don’t spend it all on beer”.

[From the Watford Observer of May 27, 1970]

 

On the stroke of half-past four yesterday afternoon, Mrs Fanny Blankers Koen 1948 Olympic double gold medal winner, arrived without ceremony or ado at [an address in] Princes Avenue, Watford.

Fanny arrived with her two children ... and they will be the guests of Mr and Mrs Bob Stevens. Mr Stevens organises the sports side of Watford Borough Carnival.

On Monday she is competing in three open events – hurdles, long jump and shot putt in Cassiobury Park.

This is her first visit to Watford – handy enough to London for her to get a glimpse of the Coronation. She arrived at London Airport together with other members of the Dutch Athletics team, who will also be competing in Cassiobury Park.

[From the Watford Observer of May 22, 1953]

 

ONLINE THURSDAY MAY 29: Decimal money - a victory for common cents?