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The news this week...
100 years ago
WORK on the bridge at Two Waters in Hemel Hempstead was welcomed in this week's Gazette.
A report said: “In passing the Two Waters bridge, now being reconstructed and widened, hundreds of people say, ‘at last!' It has taken the county council only two years to make a start with the work, since it was decided to carry out the improvements. As the path on the approaches to the bridge used to be, some folk used to get flattened noses through coming into contact with the brick wall. There will no longer be any excuse for scratched noses.”
THE Gazette's rumour column reported on an overheard conversation in an unnamed chemists shop this week.
It read: “Chemist: Go to the Forester's jubilee dinner last night?
Customer (Working man): Not ‘arf.
Chemist: Do well?
Customer: Me and my mate shifted eight plates, and there wasn't a ‘mossel' left.
Chemist: You feel alright then?
Customer: Give us a box of pills quick!”
1956 50 years ago
ONE of the first of the ‘new town' factories to open announced this week that it would be closing its doors.
The Gazette reported: “Rolls Razor Ltd, of Maylands Avenue are to close their Hemel Hempstead factory.
“They will return to their main premises at Cricklewood.
“Just over 100 people are employed at the Hemel Hempstead factory, which is being vacated because of heavy losses incurred during the last year or so.
“It is understood that the factory will be taken over by Kodak Ltd.”
There were fears in the town that this closure could be the start of an unemployment problem in the town.
Adeyfield Neighbourhood Council held a meeting at which they discussed the problem.
The report continued: “They complained that the closing of the Rolls Razor's caused the redundancy of a number of employees and that they felt that the Hemel Hempstead Development Corporation should encourage the new lessees of the factory to re-employ the jobless men and endeavour to find work for them before housing further engineers from London, otherwise the present engineers would be forced to return to London or look outside the town for work. This was defeating the aims of the new town.”
THIS week the Gazette published a warning about a female thief who had been operating in the area.
It read: “The woman is fairly well dressed, stout with a fresh complexion and round face and uses little or no make up.
“Seen by neighbours of houses she has broken into, the woman has been described as having a Canadian, North Country or Irish accent.
“When questioned she usually says she has come a long way to see relatives and will go into houses and wait.
“On some occasions she has even asked if Americans live in the house. So far her ruse has been successful.”
The public were urged to contact the nearest police station if approached by the lady.
1981 25 years ago
THE District Council this week refused to rule out a future private take over of Dacorum Sports Centre.
A report read: “Councillor Robert Peake said this week that the possibility of private enterprise being considered to run part or all of the sports centre in Park Road, Boxmoor, was not under serious discussion at the moment. He told the Gazette: ‘I am not saying it would never be done, if the price was right and users and potential users protected properly, but no offer has been made at the present time.'” ARSONISTS were being blamed for two fires which caused thousands of pounds worth of damage in Boxmoor this week.
The Gazette reported: “Within minutes of being called to Boxmoor Cricket Club, firemen also received a call to business premises a couple of hundred yards away in Wharf Road. The fire at R A Lee Ltd completely burned out one office and severely damaged the rest of the building.”
The cricket club was completely gutted and was going to have to be rebuilt.
Cricket club chairman Mr Maurice Wigmore estimated that thousands of pounds worth of damage had been caused.
A report added: “Fire destroyed the club house ten years ago and it took members three years to raise enough money to pay for the present wooden building.”
Mr Lee's business also suffered thousands of pounds worth of damage at the hands of the arsonists.
Mrs Lee said: “It's just vandalism.” ASHLYNS school doubled as an ice rink this week raising £110 for school funds.
A report read: “The polished floors of Ashlyns School gave way to artificial ice last weekend when young and not so young tried their skill at skating. The St John Ambulance was present in case of spills, but fortunately there were no accidents.” | 