Today [Friday February 13, 2015], as surely everyone must realise, is Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day. Since the first one, in 1988, getting on for £1 billion has been raised by the charity for projects in this country and in Africa.

 The first one was held on February 5, 1988, and raised some £15 million. The second one, held the following year, did even better and, Red Nose Day has been held on the second or third Friday in March, biennially, alternating with Sports Relief, ever since.

Here’s how the Watford Observer marked the very first Red Nose Day. All the pictures and stories in this spread are from the edition of February 5, 1988.

“Red Nose mania has hit south west Hertfordshire as thousands of game-for-a-laugh fundraisers have lined up to support Comic Relief Day today.

“People all over the country are being urged to have a hoot on Comic Relief Day by wearing their plastic nose with pride and raising cash for charity at the same time.

“Already a string of fundraising events have been organised to raise cash.

“A rather masculine looking Lady Godiva – alias 25-year-old James Coby – will be riding through the town on Maria, his trusty steed, in order to boost street collections organised by the Oxfam shop.

“Another town centre money spinner will be the ‘big bang’ at the pond. Most of the town’s financial institutions, including banks, insurance companies, building societies and mortgage brokers, will be pitting their wits in a series of games.

 “Elsewhere in the district shopkeepers, bar staff, hairdressers, delivery menand just about everyone else you can think of has promised to wear a false nose.

“Sharp-eyed readers may even spot intrepid scribes from the Watford Observer going about their business with their red noses in place.

“Bingo players at the Top Rank Club in King Street will hear ‘eyes down, look in and noses on’ as they take part in a special charity game this evening, while guests at the annual Beggars Banquet at Watford Town Hall will be urged to put on a nose as they arrive for their evening’s entertainment.

“Even Watford General Hospital’s physiotherapy unit is getting in on the act. Their fundraising activities include sponsored joke telling, slimming and sit-ups.

“Girls from Watford Grammar School also hope to give their elders a lesson in fundraising by holding cake sales and sponsored events at lunchtime.

“During the week a team of helpers from the sixth form and class 3A teamed up with Upper Sixth girl Alex Madinaveitia to sell red noses and Comic Relief stickers under the guidance of their teacher Mrs Shirley Greatrex.

“Fun apart, Comic Relief has a very serious aim and that is to raise cash for famine victims in Africa.

“The problems of Ethiopia were first brought to light in in 1984 when Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas? and the Live Aid concerts the following summer raised millions for relief.

“Now the comedians are doing their bit to help.

“The noses can still be bought from Oxfam shops and Wimpy restaurants for 50p each. Special Comic Relief T-shirts are also on sale at Burton shops in the town.”

Watford Observer: Tristan

Watford’s Tory MP Tristan Garel-Jones certainly has a nose for news. The jovial Mr Garel-Jones sported a red nose and startled expression when our photographer spotted him behind the wheel of his car as he arrived in Abbots Langley on Saturday.

The Junior Government Whip was visiting the village to conduct one of his regular constituency surgeries but agreed to have a 50 pence ‘nose job’ in order to show his support for Comic Relief Day.

Before getting down to the serious business of constituents’ problems at Henderson Hall, he voted Comic Relief a real winner.

And rumour has it that he is so taken by the comedians’ plan to raise cash that he may even crack his whip to get his Conservative colleagues to wear red noses in the House of Commons.

More tomorrow.