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The week in history
1906 100 years ago
AN inquest was held into the death of a sixteen month old baby in Tring.
A Gazette report read: “There was an extremely sad death from scalds at Tring on Sunday, the sixteen months' old child of PC Gregory, who Dr Le Quesne described at the inquest as ‘a charming little girl and well cared for', having the misfortune to rock her chair over and cause a kettle of boiling water to turn over and empty its contents upon her, death resulting two days after the occurrence.”
Mrs Gregory, the mother of the deceased states that she was cleaning the ceiling at twenty minutes to seven in the morning while the child was sitting in a baby chair at the table.
The report continued: “She considered the child must have jumped up in the chair, for on looking round, she saw that she and the chair were falling over. Mrs Gregory at once jumped off the chair where she was standing and tried to catch the deceased, but failed.”
The jury returned the verdict that the child had died of shock caused by the injuries.
AN amusing piece of news from Markyate sessions this week.
A report read: “The court and Bench joined in a hearty laugh.
“A prisoner in an egg stealing case asked a witness if birds could lay eggs with their master's name stamped upon them!”
1956 50 years ago
SCREEN Star Terry Thomas was in town to open a new furniture shop and do his bit for the Ivinghoe Explosion Fund.
The fund, set up to help two Hemel Hempstead boys left badly injured by an accidental bomb blast at Ivinghoe Beacon, had reached an impressive £2,856.
Mr Thomas was set to open Sheraton's furnishers in the Marlowes before hosting an auction in aid of the two victims.
Earlier in the week a Grand Variety show brought in an additional £105.
A report of the event read: “The programme never flagged from the moment the curtain rose, to the strains of the lively Hemel Hempstead Army Cadet Dance Band, to the grand finale three and a half hours later.”
AROUND 420 Girl Guides and Brownies attended a church service at St Peter's in Berkhamsted this week to receive some sound advice.
An address was given by the vicar of Abbots Langley, Rev RS Wilkinson.
He told the girls that work, playing games and church worship were all part of religion, providing one did all those things to the best of one's ability.
He said: “One of the first things we have to learn is how to work. We must not look on work as a necessary evil; we must look upon it as something which must be done for its own sake.
“Some of the unhappiest people I have met have been those who have made a lot of money and retired early in life.
“My advice is that of St Paul who said, ‘If a man will not work, neither let him eat.'”
1981 25 years ago
A ”CHEEKY daylight raider” escaped with more than £2,500 from a Hemel Hempstead bank this week - using an umbrella.
A report read: “It took the robber, who threatened a young cashier with an umbrella wrapped in a green coat, only minutes to collect the money before making his escape along Marlowes.
“An employee of the National Westminster bank in Bank Court, gave chase, but lost the thief among the crowds of lunchtime shoppers.”
Police were at the scene within seconds of the alarm going off and the town and bank were ringed off as police sought the crook.
The raid represented the first on a Hemel Hempstead Bank for more than three years.
THE hospital was in the headlines again with warnings that the town must fight to keep it in Hemel Hempstead.
A report read: “A warning that the threat to Hemel Hempstead maternity unit could be the start of a complete run down of local hospital services has come from Dacorum District Councillor John Hanson.
“In a strongly worded message to the people of Dacorum, Cllr Hanson commented this week: ‘Apathy loses many things. This particular threat could well be the start of the end to local hospital services. This must not be allowed to happen. The general public and organised groups must give practical support to their local representatives and not just lip service.'”
LITTLE Gaddesden held a pram race through the village to raise money for the village sports club. More than 90 villagers took part in the three quarter of a mile long race which was followed by a barbecue. | 