Eleven-year-old Marilyn Fish, of Gartlet School, lived up to her surname at Watford baths on Monday evening.

Competing in the Watford and District Schools’ secondary girls’ swimming gala, she gained the distinction of setting up a new record for the 33 yards (under 13) freestyle race, twice during the evening beating the previous best time which had stood for 19 years.

In her heat, Marilyn reduced the record to 23.5 seconds. She was four-tenths of a second slower in the final.

Not content with that, she also won for Gartlet the diving title.

[From the Watford Observer of July 11, 1958]

The Prince of Wales, while touring the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley, was invited by the Postmaster of the Exhibition Post Office, Mr H. Wood (who was transferred there from Watford) to purchase the five-millionth stamp. This the Prince agreed to do, but found he had no money. Mr Wood therefore made him a present of the stamp.

[From the Watford Observer of July 5, 1924]

Only one thing went wrong when his Royal Highness Prince Richard of Gloucester pressed the button to unveil the plaque and declare West Hertford-shire’s new £5½ million sewage treatment works open – nothing happened. The curtains remained obstinately closed and had finally to be opened by hand.

[From the Watford Observer of July 24, 1973]

Into the bar of the Old Berkeley Hunt public house, Watford, on Saturday night came a man holding a camera. He saw two men in the bar, went up to one, and said: “Would you like to buy a camera for £7?”

The other man looked at the camera – which was brand new – and said he had not the money with him.

The man with the camera reduced the price to £5, then to “£2 10s, a packet of Senior Service and a pint of beer.”

The other man then asked how much the camera had cost. “Every penny of £30,” replied the vendor.

There was still no sale, and the disappointed vendor left the public house. He was followed by the two men in the bar.

Outside in the street they revealed their identities – Detective Constable Henry Murray and Detective Constable George Rafter. They told the man they suspected him of having stolen property in his possession.

This was the tale told at an Occasional Court at Watford by Detective Constable Murray, who said he arrested the man with the camera, RMR of Edgware, and took him to the police station. Later, as a result of further information, he charged the man with stealing a £30 camera from a stand at Watford Chamber of Commerce Exhibition.

[From the Watford Observer of July 6, 1956]

‘Golf is not a real game; there is nothing to be learned from it, but it does help to keep you fit.” — Vice Chancellor of Oxford University at Berkhamsted Grammar School on Friday.

[From the Watford Observer of July 3, 1926]