1907 100 years ago

Bad weather hit Dacorum this week a century ago.
A report read: "We have again been visited with snow, although this time but a mere sprinkling. The weather we are now experiencing exemplifies the old adage that as the days lengthen, so the cold strengthens, and the consequence of the recent frosts is to be found in the many pipe bursts that have taken place. The wind has been particularly keen, coming from the East and North-East and bringing in its train many cases of influenza."

The Gazette also carried some dubious international science news.
A report read: "An Italian physician has studied the fingers and toes of 4,500 criminals, and finds a deficiency in the size or number of toes quite frequently among men.
He has also observed that prehensile toes, marked by a wide space between the great toe and the second toe, is a condition quite common among criminals, also a webbed condition of the toes, an approximation to the toe-less feet of some savages.
He found the little toes rudimentary in many cases, showing a tendency towards the four-toed animal foot."
It added: "These observations agree with those made by various investigations, that have also found other deformities existing among the criminal classes, particularly misshapen heads, one-sided faces, mismatched ears and eyes etc. The criminal is a degenerate type."


1957 50 years ago

One of the Country's first celebrity chefs appeared at Hemel Hempstead Magistrates this week.
Philip Harben, well know for his beard and striped apron, was fined £6 and ordered to pay costs for driving without due care and attention.
The charge related to an attempt by Mr Harben to overtake a milk tanker in Boxmoor where he skidded and hit an oncoming vehicle.
He claimed the road had been greasy and the tanker had slowed down making it harder to overtake.
The Gazette reported: "Submitting to the bench that his client had no prima facie case to answer, Mr John Streeter quoted a statement made by Harben. It read: 'It was made at the time of the accident. It was not made up after he had time to cook up something to his advantage.'"

Hemel Hempstead MP, Lady Davidson spoke in the House of Parliament this week about how it was wrong to abolish capital punishment.
She said: "Since I was a member of the standing committee which for many weeks discussed the criminal justice bill before the war, I have held the view that it would be wrong to abolish capital punishment.
"Incidentally, I have always felt strongly about the retention of corporal punishment in some cases.
"I have never changed my mind because I have always felt convinced that capital punishment could, and sometimes did act as a deterrent, and none of the many arguments and statistics that have been produced again and again have convinced me to the contrary."


1982 25 years ago

There was good news for Dacorum a quarter of a century ago this week.
Under the headline Outlook Bright for Baby Unit" it was revealed that Hospital campaigners were optimistic about the latest decision by Health chiefs.
A story read: "Campaigners against the closure of the maternity unit at the St Paul's Wing of Hemel Hempstead Hospital are cautiously optimistic that the Regional Health Authority will decide to keep it going at a meeting next Monday. That will be the day that the authority studies the report and recommendations of a working party set up by the Medical Committee to look into maternity services. Closure of the unit, which serves the whole of Dacorum district, had been advised at an earlier stage, but now the Medical Committee recommends that it would be inappropriate for the authority to propose a change in the present pattern of maternity services."
Dacorum hospital Action Group chairman, Zena Bullmore said: "It looks hopeful, and the fact that it does look hopeful is due to the community uniting and supporting our petition and the pram parade. But we can't be sure we have succeeded until next week."

There was even more good news this week in Bovingdon after it was revealed that the fire station had won a reprieve.
A report read: "Celebrations were being planned in Bovingdon this week, following news that its fire station would stay open. It was proposed that a £25,000 saving should be made by closing Bovingdon and Much Hadham retained stations because of government cuts in Herts County Council's spending. But as highlighted by the Gazette, Bovingdon's eight-man crew vowed to fight tooth and nail to save the 50-year old station. "
At a meeting at County Hall it was agreed that the closures would have an effect on the safety of local people and the efficiency of the fire brigade.

One day "Rollerama" at Pendley Theatre for the youngsters of Tring, pictured above, provoked a positive message from organiser Heather van Straten, lead actress in Pendley Actor's Repertory Theatre. She said: "Tring children are the greatest. They are well-behaved, non-violent, not vandals and do not use bad language. The day was a huge success."



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