THE 26-year-old mystery of Sandringham Road’s missing Sunday joint has been solved.

The story dates back to the tragic day in July 1944 when a flying bomb fell on the Watford street.

When Jean Groome recalled the incident in an article last week, she spoke to Mrs Awberry, one of several residents, whose roofs and ceilings suffered damage, who commented: “I lost the Sunday joint, I never came across it again.”

Now, Mr John Short, of Field Way, Rickmansworth, comes up with the explanation. He states: “I was with a rescue party from Rickmansworth ARP depot detailed to go through one of the damaged houses to see if anyone was still trapped in the debris.

“Soon after we started one of my party exclaimed: ‘There is someone here trapped by this settee. I can see their eyes.’ On lifting the settee we discovered it was a dog, still alive, and by the tail wagging, obviously glad to be freed.

“On looking around for food and drink to offer him, we found a joint in the oven, gave it to him and let him enjoy himself while we got on with our job.

“I do hope now that the dog also belonged to Mrs Awberry.”

[From the Watford Observer of October 23, 1970]