One of the numerous motorists stopped at Markyate for driving with full headlights showing during the “blackout” turned out to be none other than the inimitable Stainless Stephen. “Stainless” delighted the special constables who had brought him to a full stop by presenting each of them with an autographed portrait of himself.

[From the Watford Observer of November 11, 1938]
NOSTALGIA NOTE: Arthur Clifford Baynes (30 November 1892–1971) was an English teacher and comedian from the steel-making city of Sheffield, hence his stage name – Stainless Stephen. Largely forgotten these days, he would appear dressed in a smart tuxedo, a bowler hat with a steel band around it, a rotating bow tie, and a stainless steel vest. His speciality was that during his intoned monologue, he would interrupt the flow by supplying the punctuation, thus: “This is Stainless aimless brainless Stephen, semi-colon, broadcasting semi-conscious at the microphone semi-frantic.” He died in 1971.

 

One of Watford’s oldest firms closed at the end of last week. It was Alfred Walker’s, the coachbuilders, established in 1837. At one time the firm employed about 25 staff but there were only four left to get their cards last week. All have found new jobs, says Mr G Coles, a former director.

He called the news of the closure of the firm very sad. It has been caused because the firm, on the Greycaines industrial estate, has been sold to help pay the estate duties following the death of Mr Henry Walker in 1968.

“It was a family firm right up to the end, really,” said Mr Coles.

After his death, Mrs Olive Walker, of Hartsbourne Avenue, Bushey Heath, inherited her late husband’s shares. She said of the closure: “I am terribly upset about it. After all these years it seems such a shame.”

Walkers built Pickfords’ first pantechnicon – it was so big they had to demolish a wall of the workshop to get it out.

[From the Watford Observer of November 5, 1971]

 

Here is a new “shutter-upper” for long-winded public speakers, better than “Get up, speak up, shut up”.

Mr R.S. Allen told the National Savings Rally in Watford on Thursday: “If you do not strike oil in five minutes, stop boring!”

[From the Watford Observer of November 2, 1956]

 

Two prisoners fainted at the Assizes on being sentenced. The warders always place themselves handy for such eventualities and in each case on Monday caught the prisoner as he was falling backwards.

[From the Watford Observer of November 28, 1925]

 

Under cover of darkness some boys one night this week filled the letter box of a lady residing at Gordon House, Park Road, Bushey, with leaves and plastered the outside with mud and slush. A watch is being kept and it is to be hoped if any further mischief of the kind is done that the culprits will be caught and receive what they justly deserve, a few strokes of the birch.

[From the Watford Observer of November 19, 1892]