‘'Watford's annual Remembrance Sunday service in the Town Hall was reverent, impressive and notable for a blunt appeal that future Remembrance Sundays should be observed differently.’ So began an article in the Watford Observer of November 15, 1963.

The piece continues: “The assembly, which included Scouts, Guides, Cadets and other youth organisation members, by no means filled the hall.”

There then followed a report of the day, beginning with a list of who was there – including the Mayor and Mayoress, Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress and others – and concluding with words by the Mayor’s Chaplain the Rev Richard Salter, who took the service.

“Noting that it will soon be 50 years since World War I began,” the article continues, “he [Rev Salter] wondered if Remembrance Day might become ‘just another tradition, of importance to a diminishing minority’.

“‘It is time,’ he declared, ‘that leaders of the Church and State, in consultation with veterans’ organisations, did some thinking about the future keeping of Remembrance Day, bearing in mind that today no-one under 21 years of age has any personal memory of the Second World War and no one under 45 has any memory of World War I.’

He continued by saying the world did not want to lose a whole generation for a third time and peace must be believed in, prayed for and worked for.

“‘The world must learn the right time to use force, or abstain from it.’ enjoined the Mayor’s chaplain. ‘Let us face the future with belief, hope and trust.’

“While remembering those who died, the difficult lesson of forgiveness must be learned, ‘putting aside resentment and bitterness and accepting former enemies as fellow workers in the establishment and maintenance of peace,’ the speaker declared.”

The article was rather pompously headed “Does today’s youth care?”, as if when someone is born is their fault. Anyway, maybe he had a point, but 14 years and one week later, one 11-year-old in Abbots Langley was answering that question with a very definite: ‘Yes’.

Watford Observer:

Super Cub Chris Roome. “Only a handful of boys in the whole country have ever done anything so good as this,” said his Akela. [From the Watford Observer of November 11, 1977]

 

“Nobody can say that 11-year-old Chris Roome wastes his spare time,” begins the article. “In the past three years he has taken part in community service, first aid, home help, athletics, rescue and photographic activities, found time to play football and to swim. In fact there are few situations Chris, of Dell Meadow, Abbots Langley, cannot cope with.

“As a cub scout he has gained every one of the 18 proficiency badges possible, and the gold arrow badge, in record time.

“At a ceremony in the scouts headquarters, Langley Road, Abbots Langley, assistant commissioner Mr Jerry Poole presented Chris with his 18th badge – for photography.

“Don Gransby, Akela of the 3rd North Watford B/1st Abbots Langley pack, to which Chris belongs, is delighted with his achievement. “Only a handful of boys in the whole country have ever done anything so good as this. We are all very proud of him,” he said.

“Having swept the board at cubs, Chris is now looking forward to joining the Panther Patrol of the 3rd North Watford/1st Abbots Langley Scouts.”