A Hollywood star surprising staff at a restaurant, six tiny puppies found abandoned in a Watford park, a gun and ammunition discovered in woodland and memories of a legendary entertainer were among the stories making the headlines in the Watford Observer five and ten years ago this week.
TEN YEARS AGO
Hollywood star visits St Albans curry house
Hollywood star Tom Cruise took a break from filming a new movie at Warner Bros’ Leavesden studios to enjoy a spicy curry at a St Albans restaurant.
Customers and staff were stunned when Cruise, 50, walked into Veer Dhara in St Peters Street at around 10.30pm, accompanied by friends and bodyguards.
Cruise ordered a spicy chicken tikka masala but when the bill came it was one of the millionaire Scientologist’s entourage who picked up the tab, after he unsuccessfully tried to pay using American Express.
On top of the £220 total, staff were left a generous £75.50 tip.
Abandoned puppies found in park
Six tiny puppies have been found abandoned in a box under a tree in Cassiobury Park.
The puppies, three females and three males thought to be less than six weeks old, were found in a large brown cardboard box, containing bed sheets, a towel and a large blue and green striped T-shirt.
The terrier-type dogs were healthy and well fed but appeared to be very hungry.
A member of public who found them took them to the park cafe, in Watford, where they were looked after until they were transferred to an animal shelter.
'Famous' Watford pilot's WW2 Gestapo bombing medals to be auctioned
The Distinguished Flying Cross and two Distinguished Service Orders awarded to a pilot from Watford who led “spectacular” low-level bombing raids against the Gestapo during the Second World War are set to fetch between £20,000 and £25,000 at auction.
The DFC and DSO and Bar along with ten other medals and decorations awarded to the former Watford Grammar schoolboy, Air Vice-Marshal (formerly Wing Commander) Robert “Pinpoint” Bateson, will be auctioned at Spink in Bloomsbury, London, on Thursday, September 6.
All proceeds from the sale will go towards the creation of a Battle of Britain Museum at Bentley Priory in Stanmore.
The auctioneers describe Bateson as “the famous Mosquito pilot who led the spectacular low-level raids on Gestapo headquarters in The Hague, Copenhagen and Odense: his bombs on the former occasion going ‘bang through the front door'.
FIVE YEARS AGO
Gun and ammunition found buried in woodland
A hidden gun and ammunition was found in a woodland after a member of the public spotted what they believed to be a buried firearm.
Police were called at around 1pm on Monday, July 10, to woodland off Rousebarn Lane, Croxley Green, after the person saw a suspected firearm buried in the earth.
Officers attended and, after carrying out a search, found the firearm along with two boxes of ammunition.
Met Line Extension crunch talks for London Mayor and Watford MP
Crunch talks to discuss the future of the Metropolitan Line Extension have been arranged between the Mayor of London and Watford’s MP.
Richard Harrington, along with fellow Conservative MP David Gauke, who represents South West Herts, will meet with Sadiq Khan in October to propose an idea which could ensure the line does indeed go ahead.
Mr Harrington will suggest that Transport for London (TfL) takes over management of the track from Network Rail.
This, he says, would guarantee significant funding for the project by generating private investment, while also saving taxpayer money.
The project, which looks to connect the Metropolitan Line in Croxley to several new stations across Watford, was originally costed at £284 million.
However the cost has spiralled, with TfL now quoting a figure closer to £360 million.
When Sir Bruce captivated young fans in Rickmansworth
Memories of “true gentleman” Sir Bruce Forsyth at a charity golf tournament have been shared by a man who met him on the day as a star-struck young fan.
The TV veteran died last week at the age of 89, with BBC director general Tony Hall calling him “one of the greatest entertainers our country has ever known”.
In 1985, the Bruce Forsyth Pro-Am Charity Classic took place in Moor Park Golf Club.
Steve Verdon, who was just nine years old at the time, spent most of the day trying to get near Brucie to get an autograph.
“Security was tight. At the 18th tee, I was a bit more successful,” he recalled.
“Bruce called me and my friend forward. He asked me what he could do for me – I was holding an autograph book so he had an idea.
“I held it forward though just as I did that everyone saw and started pushing forward. Security was struggling against the crowd.
“Bruce asserted his traditional audience crowd control, shouting ‘don’t worry everyone, I will service requests after the 18th green, follow me.”
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