Watford observed - more stories from Septembers past

On recent examination the tree was found unsafe, and to avoid the risk of it crashing, as one did a year or so ago, and perhaps causing damage to life or property, it was decided to have the giant felled before the stress of another winter.

What substance there is in the contention that the tree in question is the tallest in the county cannot be stated for certain but we are assured that in the timber trade, it is generally assumed Hertfordshire’s tallest tree is in Abbots Langley.

[From the Watford Observer of September 9, 1949]

A singular accident happened on Thursday morning in connection with the train which left Holyhead at 12.10 and passed through Watford about 7 o’clock.

Soon after 7 o’clock a telegram was received at Watford Junction from a signal box on the north side of Willesden Junction that a child had fallen from the train as it was passing through Watford Tunnel.

The officials at once proceeded to search the tunnel and near the 19 and a half mile post they found a little boy, three years old, who, although unconscious, was alive. He was taken to Dr Stradling’s house in Station Road and Dr Stradling found that he was suffering from concussion of the brain, a large scalp wound and an injury to the right leg, but that no bones were broken.

 As soon as possible, the father of the child, Surgeon-Major Gasteen, of Woolwich, arrived from Willesden, and it was then ascertained that he, with Mrs Gasteen, a governess, were returning from a trip to Ireland. When the train was in a tunnel the boy was putting on his boots and was suddenly missed, attention being called to the open carriage door. Dr Gasteen succeeded in stopping the train but not until it had passed Sudbury. The child was afterwards conveyed to Watford District Cottage Hospital.

[From the Watford Observer of September 26, 1891]

Heart-throbs of the small screen, The Professionals, acted out their tough guy roles for the cameras at The Hoe, Carpenders Park on Thursday, while fans looked on with admiration.

The daring trio of Gordon Jackson, Lewis Collins and Martin Shaw, which makes up London Weekend Television’s crack team of detectives were filming scenes for their new series which is to go on air later this year.

The cameras remained for most of the day and so did the fans. One elderly observer had been waiting for a chance to corner her hero for three hours. At the end of the filming, Gordon Jackson came to her side and supplied her with autographs of the whole cast. She stood wide-mouthed. “They really are human, aren’t they?” she said.

[From the Watford Observer of September 21, 1979]

Watford FC had to deny a serious error on Monday evening. The club’s telephone was almost white-hot as shattered and anxious fans wanted to know if Watford’s goalkeeper Mike Walker was dead.

Secretary Ron Rollitt brought relief by reporting that Walker was safe and well.
The cause of the rumour? A newspaper placard in the High Street which proclaimed: “Walker killed on M1.”

[From the Watford Observer of September 19, 1969]

Two plums on a plate were the prize for the lowest score at a whist drive held by the Chalfont St Giles British Legion.

[From the Watford Observer of September 27, 1930]

They’ve an awful lot of coffee in Brazil, as everyone knows. Another product, apart from Brazil nuts and the odd revolution every few months, happens to be bananas.

Down at Elders and Fyffe’s Queen’s Road depot the other day, they were dealing with a consignment of this delectable fruit when an unwanted immigrant to England popped out and made a dash across the warehouse floor.

It was a large and loathsome spider. “It jumped and ran like a mouse,” said Messrs F. E. Baldry and Maurice and Dennis Woolnough, who were dealing with the consignment. Unlike the normal spiders seen in this country, its body was the size of the top of a man’s thumb, and its legs were built in proportion. A nasty customer, in fact, and when it was trapped and secured in a saucepan the atmosphere became easier.

When it proceeded to bite a couple of holes in a piece of wood held in front of its jaws, the lid was clamped down smartly.

Branch manager Mr R.S. Sandon, declares that in his long experience in handling fruit he has only seen one such spider. And a snake.

[From the Watford Observer of September 21, 1951]

Birds of a feather... runs the adage, and the members of the Handlebar Club, all sporting fierce moustaches, are never happier than when in each other’s company.

Founder member and sports captain Mr A. G. H. (“Jeep”) Ormsby, of Loates Lane, Watford, rejoiced, therefore, when on Tuesday he received a visit from Bill (“Raff”) Hooper (originator of Pilot Officer Prune).

“Don’t call it ‘face fungus’ old boy,” said Hooper, when attention was drawn to the appendage on his upper lip. “That’s outmoded – facial flock, mouth moss, beak boscage or lip lichen are the terms to use.”

[From the Watford Observer of September 23, 1949]

Many towns in Hertfordshire should be interested in the progress being made by the Namesake Town Association, which under the auspices of the English Speaking Union, has been founded with the object of exchanging visits and greetings between towns bearing similar names in the Old and New Worlds.

Already there is a membership of 53 towns.

Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and Tring all have their Transatlantic counterparts. One interesting fact is that the State of Connecticut has a township bearing the name of Barkhamsted – obviously the pronunciation in vogue when the name was carried across the Atlantic by old-time settlers.

Incidentally, this township is only a short distance from Hartford, the capital of Connecticut.

Even Dudswell, a little village between Northchurch and Tring, has a namesake in Quebec.

[From the Watford Observer of September 8, 1934]

Following the storm on Friday night, the meeting of the Watford Greyhounds on Saturday evening brought forth two appropriately named winners: Sheet Lightning and Passing Storm.

[From the Watford Observer of September 6, 1930]