The Archers came to the rescue of an elderly lady in Bushey Hall Road on Monday.

She was listening to her portable mains radio while Dan Archer explained to wife Doris how to put out a small fire by covering the blaze with a saucepan.

No sooner had the programme finished than the little radio suddenly burst into flames.

The lady rushed to the kitchen of her flat, snatched up a variety of saucepans and tackled the fire herself, before calling in firemen from Garston.

When they reached the flat, the fire was out and they found the intrepid firefighter sitting at her table next to a large pile of saucepans, under which was the charred remains of the wireless.

[From the Watford Observer of April 7, 1967]

The family of the Bishop of St Albans have got their own road safety code when travelling by car with Mrs Runcie at the wheel. When she goes too fast, everyone shouts “Mill End” ... and the speed drops significantly.

This story, told by the bishop at the informal gathering that followed St Peter’s Centenary celebration mass, originated from the time Mrs Runcie was fined for speeding through Mill End some time ago, a fact she is never allowed to forget.

[From the Watford Observer of April 11, 1975]

Doubtless many of our readers have seen a motor car spinning along our thoroughfares over the last few days, and as one of our representatives has had the privilege of a ride on this particular one, it may be as well to record its appearance in our midst, much to the astonishment of drivers and horses.

This car belongs to the Daimler Motor Car company and it is this company who, in the course of a few weeks, anticipate running their motor buses between Callowland and Bushey station.

The speed attainable on this kind of car is 16 miles per hour, but the proposed buses will be geared to a maximum of ten miles and a minimum of three miles; ten miles an hour, we think, is quite sufficient speed in a busy town like Watford with its narrow streets.

[From the Watford Observer of April 2, 1898]

There were many more people killed and injured through road accidents in Herts last year than by enemy action during any one year of the war.

Such a sweeping statement would appear incredible, but the truth is revealed in statistics just published and is the more deplorable in view of the expense and effort of Road Safety campaigns throughout the county.

Watford is well up the list with its five fatalities among 643 accidents and with 284 persons injured. Throughout the county in 1947 there were 4,208 accidents resulting in 71 persons being killed and 2,008 injured.

[From the Watford Observer of April 23, 1948]

Pat Jennings, Watford FC’s 18-year-old goalkeeper, has been chosen to play for Northern Ireland against Wales at Swansea on Wednesday.

But Pat’s success will cost Watford £1,000 – an agreement made when the club bought him from Newry Town.

[From the Watford Observer of April 10, 1964]