Electrician Arthur Rook was up a ladder decorating the front room of his home in West Watford when he heard he had won £141,000 on the pools.

“In all my years as an electrician this is the biggest shock I have had,” said 60-year-old Arthur, who works at Trewin Brothers store in Watford. He said his wife, Nancy, who also works part-time at Trewin Brothers, had chosen the numbers for the winning line some years ago. “We were thinking of changing them but thank goodness we didn’t,” he said.

They have both worked at the store for more than ten years and Mrs Rook intends to take early retirement. “I shall miss my friends but not the 7am start,” she said.

[From the Watford Observer of September 3, 1982]

 

National newspaper photographs did not do justice to the improvement in Watford FC chairman Elton John’s hair. Elton, who has now shelved his cap before departing for a 60-concert tour of the States and Australia, faces two more operations before he will be able to sport a full head of hair.

“The first operation went wrong. That’s why I have worn a cap so long,” said Elton. The Watford chairman watched Saturday’s match with Cardiff – the first time he has seen the Hornets this season.

“I’ve been busy recording. I have a new single and an album out next week and two more albums in the can. After this tour I can get back to concentrating on football,” said the superstar who has had a busy year, giving his pop career a boost.

[From the Watford Observer of September 21, 1979]

 

Honour of being the first United Nations sailor to shoot down an enemy plane since the Korean war began goes to a Chorleywood man, 22-year-old Able Seaman Dennis Heckford.

Heckford, who has been in the Navy for some years and who has been abroad since 1948, was gunlayer in the crew of a pom-pom on a British cruiser which was attacked by a Sturmovik fighter-bomber.

As gunlayer, he got the plane in his sights and it was shot down after a five-second burst.

[From the Watford Observer of September 22, 1950]

 

Afive-ton “Burrell” engine owned and driven by Mr Jack Gilbert, of Bournehall Road, Bushey, with Mr P.A. Millyard as mate, puffed away with four of the prizes at the traction engine rally which drew 5,000 visitors to Tunnel Woods Farm, Great Gaddesden, on Sunday and Monday.

This 1915 steam tractor won the obstacle race, the beer-in-the-bucket event, a polo race and a tug-of-war. In the tug-of-war, Mr Gilbert challenged 100 stout fellows to pull his engine backwards against a forward drive.

They failed – and the pile-up of 100 bodies when the rope broke caused great amusement.

[From the Watford Observer of September 3, 1965]

 

An owner-occupier summoned for non-payment of rates at the Berkhamsted Police Court was asked if the house he lived in belonged to him. “Well, not exactly,” he replied, “but it will do when I have paid for it.”

[From the Watford Observer of September 13, 1930]

 

ONLINE NEXT THURSDAY: A tear gas attack on Watford in 1941