1907 100 years ago
The Gazette's New Year edition was full of witty stories regarding the festive celebrations.

One began: "At a New Year's supper party in a local inn one of the company sang a patriotic song. It was The Veteran in which are the lines Long live the King, the King is coming. Just as the vocalist sang the last- named words footsteps were heard on the stairs. Sure enough a Mr King entered the room and there was considerable merriment at the incident."


The same column reported: "At a recent christening a nervous father of twins said he wished them named Steak and Kidney. What he had meant to say was Kate and Sidney."


Another amusing anecdote from the New Year period read: "One of the most humiliating experiences a man can be subjected to is to have his hat blown off in a busy thoroughfare.

"One day during the last week a gust of wind displaced a gentleman's bowler in the High Street. After dodging a bus the hat played hide-and-seek about the wheels of a running cart. A gallant errand boy went in chase and eventually rescued the truant hat. Curiously enough, just as he was restoring it to its owner, his own hat blew off. A member of the No Hat Brigade had a tremendous laugh."


1957 50 years ago
It was reported this week that work was set to start on the much delayed out-patients department at West Herts Hospital in Hemel Hempstead.

The Gazette reported: "After more than ten years of discussion and planning the 'go-ahead' decision was taken on Wednesday morning when the architect of the Regional Hospital Board visited the site with his principal contractors.

"When completed, the building will in fact be a complete new block, incorporating two surgical wards as well as the out-patients department. Estimated to take two years, the extension will cost £125,000."

The article added: "The new department will meet a vital need. The existing one deals with 43,000 people a year, that is its absolute limit - and the number of people needing treatment is rapidly increasing."


The Chairman of the Hemel Hempstead Development Corporation was given an award in the New Years Honours List.

It was announced that Henry W Wells was to be given a CBE for his services to the corporation during the previous six years.

A report read: "Mr Wells, who is aged 45, succeeded Lord Reith in December 1950 and since then has been responsible for the development of the New Town."

It added: "He became a member of the Hemel Hempstead Development Corporation board in 1947; and before being appointed Chairman of Hemel Hempstead Board was vice-chairman of the Bracknell Development Corporation. He is a specialist on the estates side of town planning and was called in by the Colonial Office to advise on the rehabilitation of Gibraltar after the war."


1982 25 years ago
Freezing fog and icy conditions saw the cancellation of the traditional Boxing Day hunt at Redbourn, but did not stop around 600 anti-hunt campaigners from turning out to voice their objections. A report read: "More than 50 police escorted the peaceful demonstrators, who paraded around Redbourn Common with banners saying 'stop the killing now' and 'why kill for a thrill?'

"Only six riders actually turned out with their hounds in what anti-hunt organiser, John Crossman, described as a 'token gesture'."

Hunt supporters were also on the scene bearing banners with slogans such as 'hunting is part of country life' and 'freedom of choice, keep hunting.'

Among the speakers for the anti-hunt campaign was former Hemel Hempstead MP Robin Corbett, who told the demonstrators that human rights were very much connected with animal rights. The report added: "The Aldenham Harriers, who have been meeting on Redbourn Common for about 30 years, have the backing of the parish council after a village referendum in 1980 was in favour of allowing the hunt to meet."


The cold snap across Dacorum 25 years ago led to eleven elderly Chipperfield residents being 'imprisoned' in their homes for almost two weeks.

Pensioner John Oliver, of Queen Street in Chipperfield, said he was angry that while the council seemed prepared to grit outside the Two Brewers pub and the church car park, it had not helped de-ice the pavements to allow the older residents to leave their homes safely.

He said: "If the council had dumped some salt at the end of our road we would have spread it ourselves. I felt sorry for all those old people. I haven't seen some of them, who live on their own, for two weeks. They couldn't even get along to the corner shop."

A district council spokesman said it was the responsibility of the county council and pavements were not normally gritted.


A group of hairdressers in Berkhamsted donned their old school uniforms to raise money for charity.

A report read: "These long-legged lassies in black stockings, garters and gym slips turned a few heads at Hair by Christopher John on Lower Kings Road last week. "The 'hair-brained' frolics in St Trinians outfits were dreamed up by salon owner Christopher Graham, sporting a headmasterly mortar board and gown."



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