This week in history - 60, 40 and 20 years ago.
Sixty years ago - 1953
An 18-year-old Harold Hill fence builder was put on probation for two years after inflicting grievous bodily harm on his stepfather.
The argument that led to the Lavender Path resident hitting the older man with a chair “several times” had been resolved, Romford magistrates heard.
It happened as the stepfather had threatened to hit his wife during an argument about his gambling. The younger man had intervened, injuring the elder.
Passing sentence, the chairman of the bench said he would be lenient, but chastised the fence builder for taking the law into his own hands.
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Rodney Tansley, founder member and director of Romford Football Club, had died aged 73.
In Rodney’s younger days he had played for the old Heath Park Celtic team. He became involved with Romford FC when it was first mooted in 1929.
He was club treasurer until his death, and had also been vice president, deputy president and chairman of the ground committee.
During the Second World War, when football was suspended, Rodney helped prevent the club’s Brooklands ground from being ploughed up for allotments.
The Brentwood Road resident left behind a widow and a daughter.
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A 65-year-old widow walked free from court after she denied stealing five razor blades.
The assistant manager of British Home Stores told the court he had seen the defendant take a packet from the display counter and put it in her pocket while she was paying for two other blades.
And a police officer said the defendant had confessed to her.
But when under oath the Marks Road, Romford, resident said she could only remember buying the two blades when she was at the counter.
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Forty years ago - 1973
A Romford businessman produced a loaded shotgun in an argument with a business associate over money, Stratford Court heard.
The explosives expert admitted being in possession of the weapon.
In a statement read to the court, he said had gone into business with two men earlier in the year. The previous week, he had wanted to take some money out of the business.
He had been drinking and went to see one of the men in Barkingside. During a heated argument he took a loaded shotgun from his car.
The court was told no shots were fired but police were called and the man was arrested.
Magistrates adjourned the case by the magistrates.
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Harold Wood Hospital was to be without a casualty department for the fourth weekend in a row.
And during weeknights throughout the previous month it had frequently had to close the unit down.
The problem? The hospital had only one casualty officer - instead of the required three.
A hospital spokesperson had said: “Until we get someone along to fill the vacancies, we are stuck.”
The hospital was said to be hopeful it would be able to fill the posts within a week.
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Rising food prices affected a school’s harvest festival service - because nobody gave any eggs.
But that didn’t stop the parents of children at Hacton Primary School, Hornchurch, crowding out of the school hall with gifts for the pensioners at the Hornchurch Old People’s Welfare Association.
“The parents were absolutely wonderful,” said headmaster John Verrier. “They gave a lot of food and somebody even gave a can of beer, which would have cheered somebody up.”
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Twenty years ago - 1993
Havering councillor Andrew Rosindell had thrown down the gauntlet to Tory party chiefs, demanding “draconian” measures to halt rising crime.
On the day the biggest package of crime-busting legislation ever seen in Britain was unveiled at the Conservative Party conference, Young Conservatives chairman Cllr Rosindell, 27, made his own radical contribution to the Blackpool conference’s home affairs debate, amid “rousing cheers”.
He said it was time to punish violent young thugs, bring back hanging for premeditated murder and make sure rapists never rape again.
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A unit based in Harold Wood hospital that helped patients return back to normal life after having limbs amputated had been chosen as the best in Britain for patient satisfaction.
Disablement Centre manager Barbara Lealan said: “We are highly delighted with the report, which acknowledges the staff’s hard work.
“People visiting our centre can be assured we are constantly monitoring our performance to ensure our services are of the highest possible standard.”
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Details of a new green think tank to boost its environmental policies had been released by Havering Council.
It was to be launched the following month, and it was hoped funnyman and environmentalist Bill Oddie would join the 20-strong team of experts and local conservationists.
He had been invited to take part after criticising the council’s treatment of Rainham Marshes.
Innovations would include a council environment charter to train staff in energy saving, the introduction of 50 mini-recycling centres, cycle paths from Rainham to Rise Park, and Havering Riverside Walk, which was already open to the public.
Council leader Arthur Latham said: “We need the support of the whole community to formulate new ideas.”
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