Gold fever is breaking out as budding Long John Silvers are invited to search for a valuable coin in aid of All Saints’ Church, Leavesden.

Metal detectors, trowels and spades are out in force as fortune hunters take part in The Great Hertfordshire Rare Coin Hunt, which started yesterday.

The organisers, who hope to raise money for a new central heating system at the church and for the Watford Samaritans, have buried a gold Denarius coin in the county, west of the A1. Finders will be keepers.

To help enthusiasts on their way, a booklet has been produced containing more than 20 clues to the coin’s whereabouts. The booklet and the buried treasure follow a similar pattern to a hunt organised by Kit Williams, whose [1979] book Masquerade had thousands of people out searching for a golden hare.

The bejewelled ornament was found earlier this year after the book had sold thousands.

The chairman of the All Saints’ Heating Fund, Mr Tony Farquharson, said: “This is Hertfordshire’s own Masquerade.”

As well as the Roman coin, worth about £100, there may be a possible additional prize. If more than £1,200 is raised by the sale of the £1 booklets, 10 per cent of the extra cash will also go to the finder.

The hunt, which will end at the beginning of October, even if the coin has not been found, is just one of many events to raise money for All Saints’ Church including barbecues and dances.

[From the Watford Observer of July 2, 1982]  

 

During an impromptu discussion by a few members of the Hemel Hempstead Guardians Committee, it was stated that a woman, aged 80 years, was admitted to Hempstead House, from Flamstead. After being given a bath she exclaimed: “Lovely! If only I had known it was so nice I would have had a bath years ago.”

Another woman was not quite so enthusiastic. She was making a return visit to Hempstead House and declared if she were a Duchess she could not be treated better than she was there “but them there baths; I can’t a’bear them,” she added ruefully.

[From the Watford Observer of July 7, 1934]

 

Bouts of jelly wrestling and mud fighting will stay “off the bill” at Watford Town Hall, councillors confirmed on Tuesday.

But they agreed to differ on whether such activities were “sexploitation” or harmless fun.

Reaffirming the council ban, Councillor John Horsfield said the council was not attempting to censor, but to protect the public from exploitation.

But Councillor Gary Ling argued the council should not have a “pre-emptive strike and censorious attitude” towards such activities.

The debate followed the council’s decision two months ago to reverse its rule that women should not be allowed to wrestle at the town hall.

Members decided to allow a woman wrestler to perform there after she accused them of going against their own equal opportunities policy.

[From the Watford Observer of July 31, 1992]