1907 100 years ago
The Gazette reported on an "amusing incident at a well known Berkhamsted hostelry."
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It read: "Two local characters were arguing as to which possessed the fastest pony. One was a fishmonger and the other a farmer. The fishmonger had left his pony and cart in the yard. The cart contained a good supply of fresh and dried fish. The argument was a very heated and noisy one.
"Another local character entered the house for an express purpose. He had seen the fishmonger's fish being interfered with. He tapped the fishmonger on the shoulder and said quietly, 'there is a cat....'"
"Although he repeated this part of the sentence four or five times he could not get a hearing. The argument about the fast pony was too absorbing for either of the arguers to take any notice of anyone."
The third person then shouted: "There is a cat eating your fish!"
"That abruptly ended the argument and the fishmonger bunked off towards the yard. After the excitement things were meek and mild."
A report from Markyate this week revealed that two men were sent to prison for ten days each for stealing ferns.
The report added: "Before the Mayor of Hemel Hempstead on Thursday the men, tramps, were charged with damage to fern roots belonging to Sir Edgar Sebright. Evidence having been given by Ernest Dell, gamekeeper, the defendants were committed to gaol for ten days and each ordered to pay 10s 6d.
1957 50 years ago
There was relief in Warners End this week according to the Gazette.
A report read: "A telephone call from Lady Davidson MP to her agent yesterday brought news which will cause sighs of relief throughout the new Hemel Hempstead neighbourhood of Warners End. Her message: Lord Hailsham, minister of education, has given his full consent to a start being made on April 1 on the new primary school. Thus has ended an issue over which a school strike was threatened. Angered and worried about inadequate educational facilities for their children, parents at Warners End have, over recent months, been making strenuous representations for improvements."
A local man's return to Hemel Hempstead after four years in New Zealand led to an interesting interview on the differences between the two countries.
Roy Sells, 21, left for New Zealand aged 17 under the child emigrant scheme working as a farmer in the south island and a truck driver in Wellington.
He told the Gazette his average wage was £13 per week.
He said: "In New Zealand money seems to go farther. Clothes are a little more expensive than in England, but food is cheaper.
He added: "It's a great country and I shall be going back there in six months to a year to become a farmer again."
Roy was looking for work while he was home to pay for the £150 fare to get back to New Zealand.
1982 25 years ago
A Hemel Hempstead housewife and mother this week launched a campaign to "save" Warners End.
The Gazette reported that Maxine Fay, who had trained as a planner had set up an Association for the Preservation of Warners End and Chaulden.
A report read: "The new body is in direct response to the Dacorum District Council's proposed modifications to the District Plan which would enable land now in the Green Belt to be used for building.
"Major areas affected are the Bourne Valley and Fields End school sites in the Western neighbourhoods of Hemel Hempstead, plus some farm land."
Mrs Fay said: "We need as much help as possible and all the expertise available to preserve the open character of that area. Our case will be mainly on the green belt issue, but other matters are involved - access, over-stretching of local facilities and the fact that residential development on the sites would mean that more educational facilities would be needed."
A Hemel Hempstead bobby was awarded a commendation for bravery this week following his actions in arresting a criminal who attacked him with a screwdriver.
PC Alan Griffin, 28, was presented with the commendation by the Chief Constable of Herts police for his "tenacious and courageous action."
The incident, which took place in Warners End in 1980 was described as "frightening" by PC Griffin.
He had chased a man from behind the community centre to an old people's home, where the man had attacked him.
He said: "I did not know what was in his hand when he turned round and faced me. I kept going up to him and kept cool as I wanted to win him over and get him to surrender.
He was stabbed in the face and neck by the man with a screwdriver but managed to restrain him. The man was later jailed.
Pupils at Bridgewater School in Berkhamsted held a special sponsored knowledge event to raise funds to buy a plain paper copying machine.
Pupils raised around £1000 towards the cost of the machine by getting general knowledge questions right.
