One of Life’s Little Dramas was enacted in a Berkhamsted side street on Monday. At dusk, a man was seen to walk to the edge of the kerb, wait until he thought everybody was out of sight, and then, after furtively glancing round, drop something down a drain.

A neighbour, who had witnessed the incident, deemed it wise to approach the man as nonchalantly as possible, and asked if he had lost anything.

“Good Lord, no!” replied the man. “I’ve just got rid of about 50 old razor blades.”

[From the Watford Observer of August 18, 1934]

Another organisation has joined in the fight to get the Minister of Transport to change his mind not to impose a 40mph speed limit on the North Orbital Road, Garston.

On Wednesday, after hearing complaints about the decision, the Watford and District Trades Council decided to take the matter up with the Minister and ask him where he got his information that 90 per cent of the traffic along this road travelled within 40mph.

Bus driver Mr J.T. Pennell, who uses the road daily, said it was absolute rubbish that the majority of vehicles travelled at 40mph.

“We don’t know where the ‘minister of twaddle’ got his information from but perhaps it was from the ‘minister of piffle’,” said Mr Pennell.

[From the Watford Observer of August 2, 1963]

Sweets go back on the ration – 4oz a week, as at the time of derationing – from Monday next. Disappointment over the decision to reimpose a control that had been taken off will be tempered for many by experiences during the five “mad, merry months” of derationing.

At first there was an instatiable rush until one confectionery shop after another emptied of stock. “No sweets” notices on the counter alternated with the queue, followed more recently by varied ration systems by some retailers themselves, which at times reached the irrational.

“Regulars” while appreciating the opportunity to collect a packaged mystery assortment across the counter, have not always equally appreciated the all-or-nothing nature of a purchase more costly than they would normally make.  Our postbag suggests the certainty of a modest 4oz a week for all will be generally welcomed in the Watford district.

[From the Watford Observer of August 12, 1949]
 
The ceremony to name the new steam engine, provided by public subscription, was performed by Lady Ebury in the presence of a large gathering of persons in Rickmansworth.

The proceedings took place in the meadows attached to The Bury. After an explanatory speech by Captain Henderson, of the Fire Brigade, Lady Ebury launched a carefully poised bottle of wine against the new engine, at the same time wishing “Success to the Victoria”, the name which her ladyship had selected for it.

The company then dispersed to a respectful distance, many crossing the river to the beautiful grounds of The Bury, which had been placed at the disposal of the brigade and the powers of the new engine were then exhibited.

A magnificent jet of water nearly 120 feet high was discharged and continued for a considerable time, satisfactorily demonstrating to the spectators, amid their applause, that a fire of even large extent would have little chance when so great a body of water was projected against it.

[From the Watford Observer of August 29, 1891]

Sex-aid parties organised by Radlett housewife and mother Maggie Day have upset Labour’s Elstree County Councillor Tony Walton and Hertsmere councillor Phil Rose.

Mrs Day, an agent for the Ann Summers firm, organises the parties along the lines of a Tupperware evening to sell items from a 100-product catalogue of erotic clothing, bedwear, stimulants, contraceptive creams and love aids.

She said: “Many women are stuck at home with the children in a mundane existence and that sexy nightie or saucy pair of suspenders will make their old men stay at home instead of going out and chatting up dolly birds.”

But county councillor Walton said: “We resent the claims that people here live mundane lives. This is a comment that exploits the working people. Women here live full and satisfying lives and people who live in council houses do not need these sex aids.”

Councillor Rose added: “This is an attack on the moral fibre of the people here. They are too busy out working for the family to go off with other women.”

[From the Watford Observer of August 20, 1982]

This week work has been in progress on the traffic lights at the junction of Chorleywood Road and the new road bypassing Rickmansworth. In the vicinity of Rickmansworth station there are half a dozen or more sets of red, amber and green lights.

When they are fully in operation no doubt some enterprising motor coach owner – or perhaps the LMS – will organise evening excursions to see the illuminations. After all, why go to Blackpool when you have such attractions on your doorstep?

[From the Watford Observer of August 25, 1934]

A team of archaeologists is rescuing the prehistoric remains of a Neolithic settlement in the path of the A41 by-pass near Kings Langley.

Part of the settlement was discovered only a few hundred yards from where Minister for Roads and Traffic Christopher Chope last month cut the first sod to mark the beginning of the long-awaited road.

Another Neolithic site has been found just above Apsley and is thought to link with the first site in Rucklers Lane, Kings Langley. If this is true, the whole camp will cover about one kilometre, making it one of the biggest Neolithic finds not only in Hertfordshire but the whole of the country.

The settlement is thought to date back to about 3,000BC.

[From the Watford Observer of August 23, 1991]

Mr Henry Turner, the representative for Puttenham on the Berkhamsted Rural District Council, suggested the water mains in his parish leaked and asked that they should be inspected as he had to pay eight to nine-tenths of the water charges of the parish. The Clerk’s reply was not very satisfying for he reminded Mr Turner that if the mains needed repair, eight or nine-tenths of the cost would come out of his pocket.

Mr Turner’s final plaint was: “What with the price of whisky and the charge for water at Puttenham, I can’t afford to drink either.”

[From the Watford Observer of August 26, 1933]