Watford FC, a former strip club and a Bushey school feature in our archive stories

TEN YEARS AGO

Pair confirm interest in buying Watford

Panos Thomas and Laurence Bassini have confirmed their interest in buying the Hornets' parent company Watford Leisure Plc by releasing a statement to the Stock Exchange.

The Watford Observer reported how orthopaedic surgeon Thomas was to be the frontman for Bassini's takeover of the club.

And the pair subsequently released a statement on the Stock Exchange website confirming they were “considering making an offer at or around 1 pence per ordinary share” but added “there can be no certainty that an offer will be forthcoming.”

The statement read: “Mr Panagiotis (Panos) Thomas and Mr Laurence Bassini note the recent media speculation concerning a possible offer for Watford Leisure plc ("Watford").

“Mr Thomas and Mr Bassini confirm they are considering making an offer at or around 1 pence per ordinary share for Watford.

“There can be no certainty that an offer will be forthcoming.”

Academy celebrates start of £29million redevelopment

An artist's impression of the new entrance to The Bushey Academy

Staff and students at The Bushey Academy celebrated the start of a £29million re-development this morning (Thursday).

The first ground was broken to mark the start of a 19-month project that will see the former Bushey Hall School transformed in to a modern business academy.

Students will move into temporary classrooms during the redevelopment, which will preserve the most historic buildings on the site dating back to the 1920s.

Academy principal Andy Hemmings said: "I'm extremely excited. We have made significant progress since taking over here and this is the next big step. A building doesn't make a school, the ethos does, but this new development will have a major impact."

Mayor backs new music venue

Vogue to reopen as the Vogue Live Lounge

Watford Mayor Dorothy Thornhill has backed plans to replace a strip club in the town centre with a new live music venue.

Vogue, in The Parade, has offered adult entertainment since 2009 but it has closed.

In early March, it will reopen as the Vogue Live Lounge, which will host unsigned bands, tribute acts and a variety of acts who made their names in the 1980s and 1990s.

Mayor Thornhill said: “I am glad that the venue will now be used for promoting live music and appeal to a different clientele than those who simply want to drink.

“The owner does care about Watford, he's been trading in the town for years and is committed to making this work.

“I wish him every success and hope that those of us who love live music will make it a success so that there's no going back.”

FIVE YEARS AGO

Watford Magistrates' Court to close

The court in Clarendon Road

Watford Magistrates' Court will be closed next year, it has been confirmed.

Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service said the building in Clarendon Road is one of 86 courts and tribunals which will close across the country in a bid to save £500 million.

The decision to close the town's court followed a consultation, which was launched in July last year.

Tree falls on Abbots Langley police station as Storm Imogen hits UK

The section of tree on top of the police station

Storm Imogen brought a section of a tree down on top of a police station.

A large section of a tree fell down on top of Abbots Langley Police Station but it is not believed to have damaged the building.

Storm Imogen has brought high winds and heavy rain to the UK and authorities are warning that train services may be delayed because of adverse weather conditions.

‘It’s not safe for either patients or doctors’: Second walkout from junior doctors

The junior doctors protesting over pay and conditions

Junior doctors in Watford began their second 24-hour strike this morning to protest over pay and conditions.

Around 200 junior doctors from Watford General Hospital joined thousands nationwide who are leaving their posts for 24 hours to protest against government plans to change their contracts.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt says he wants junior doctors’ working patterns to become more flexible in order to deliver the “seven-day NHS” the Conservatives promised in the general election.

Standing on the picket line Matthew Heron said: “Patient safety is the most important thing. I think it’s a real shame that the government is pushing this on us.

“I think we are already over-stretched as it is to provide a decent service.

“They want us to work more hours with less doctors. It’s not safe for either patients or doctors.”