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The news this week...
100 years ago
A REPORT on an emergency at the railway line was published this week.
It read: “A railway station ambulance corps had a strange case to deal with the other day.
“News was received at the station that a man had been run over by a train and the ambulance men were hurriedly dispatched with their appliances.
“Upon searching the line two miles distant from the station it was found that the train had passed over a shovel and the services of first aid were not required.”
A MAN caught red-handed, stealing from a Hemel Hempstead shop, was sent to prison for three weeks with hard labour.
The man, described as a pedlar, daringly took a bundle of socks from outside Mr Lansley's shop on Hemel Hempstead High Street.
A report read: “Unfortunately for him, but fortunately for Mr Lansley, PS Boarder's eagle-eye was watching the thief and he was promptly arrested and taken to the police station. The prisoner said he was very drunk at the time or he would not have done it.”
PS Boarder told the magistrates court: “I saw him get to Mr Lansley's doorway. He stood close to the window and put his hand in his trouser pocket. He then appeared to cut something down that was hanging near the shop door and put a bundle under his coat and walk away.”
He added: “I followed him and went up to him and said: ‘What have you got under your coat?'
He replied: ‘You're a b-------, you've been watching me.' He then gave me the bundle of socks produced from under his coat.”
The six pairs of woollen socks were valued at 3s 6d. 1956
50 years ago
A GAS explosion in Hemel Hempstead left one home completely wrecked and another two badly damaged this week.
The explosion on Sunnyhill Road, occurred at 1.30pm in the afternoon, when most residents were at work.
One lady was taken to hospital with minor abrasions and suffering from shock.
Employees of the Eastern Gas Board were cleaning supply pipes at the time of the blast and workers rushed to help with the small fire that had broken out.
The report continued: “Fire brigades from Hemel Hempstead and Watford were soon on the scene to start the long task of clearing the debris and making sure that the remaining walls were safe. All the tiles had been stripped from the roof, leaving only the timbers, while inside walls crumbled with the slightest pressure from firemen.”
It added: “As firemen salvaged a few sticks of furniture - most of it was completely destroyed - they came across two budgerigars which had died in the explosion.”
THE Mayor Graham Hitchcock this week put his support behind a campaign to raise funds to help the people of Hungary following the quashing of their revolution by the Soviets.
A letter to The Gazette read: “The recent terrible events in Hungary have been followed by the people of this country with growing concern and dismay. Countless thousands of people have been made homeless and many have fled across the neighbouring frontiers as refugees.
“Unable to support themselves, these people will to a large extent depend upon the generosity and sympathy of the rest of the world. So too will the many thousands who are left in a pitiable condition in their own country.”
Along with the chairman of the rural district council, Hugh Aronson, Mr Hitchcock urged people to send donations to the town hall for the Hungarian people.
1981 25 years ago
THE Gazette reported that a house in Cotterells could become the centre of Muslim worship in Hemel Hempstead.
An article read: “Mr Quwwatul Islam, of Long John, is seeking to convert part of 262 Cotterells into a place of worship. The house would be used for a small group of Muslims to take part in quiet indoor prayer, five times a day and for 10 to 15 children to receive one hour's religious instruction each afternoon.”
It added: “Mr Islam is concerned that the 1,000-strong Muslim community in Hemel Hempstead does not have a place to worship or to instruct their children in religious education.”
A HEMEL Hempstead headteacher this week rebelled against educational spending cuts by refusing to cut his staff.
A report read: “Mr George Walker, headmaster of Cavendish School, has told parents that he is refusing to reduce his ancillary staff by 17 per cent before January.
“The school governors are backing him and he has described the effect of the ordered cut backs as ‘very serious indeed.'
Mr Walker told parents: “I have refused to carry out the instruction because I am convinced it would mean an immediate deterioration in the quality of your children's education.
“Ever since I became a head in Hertfordshire five years ago, there has been cut after cut in the education service. All the so-called optional extras have gone and now the cuts are beginning to destroy the basics.”
Mr Walker added that Herts has traditionally been proud of its high educational standards and was being made to feel guilty because of other local authorities' lower standards.”
VILLAGERS in Redbourn were said to be livid about the postponement of the proposed bypass and were staging a demonstration.
A report read: “Herts Highways Committee's U-turn on a top-priority scheme had made villagers ‘hoping mad' said parish councillor, Mrs Helen Keeley, she added: ‘The whole village is stunned and incensed.'”
More than 200 people turned out for a demonstration on the high street to protest against the decision to cancel the construction of the bypass, due to begin in 1983. | 