This week in history - 20, 40 and 60 years ago.
Sixty years ago – 1953
Four men were arrested for using a pub as a betting house in Harold Wood.
Police officers raided the King Harold on Station Road and arrested the men. The defendants were also charged with allowing people to stay there while betting was taking place on the premises.
The defendants appeared at Romford Magistrates’ Court and as they were all householders, the police had no choice but to grant them bail – at the sum of £5 each.
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A teenager caught an intruder who broke into a school to steal electric clocks.
The pupil, 17, attended Bonaventure’s Grammar School in Forest Gate and managed to catch the man trying to steal four electric clocks from classrooms.
The man, from Plaistow, was also seen by two other boys, whom he told he had permission to be on the premises.
He had then made off but run into the 17-year-old – who chased him back into the school grounds.
The judge told the Sheila Close, Romford, resident: “It is a very good thing a schoolboy who sees this sort of thing going on has the courage to take the matter into his own hands.”
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15-year-old Kathleen Harvey, Barking, leapt off a moving train at Upminster station.
The girl boarded the train at Fenchurch Street expecting the train to stop at Barking, however when she realised the train did not stop she forced open the carriage doors at Upminster and jumped onto the platform.
The girl was taken to Oldchurch Hospital, Hornchurch after suffering from shock and several bruises.
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Forty years ago – 1973
A large tipper lorry crashed into a couple’s home in Upminster.
The Romford disposal lorry was negotiating a sharp bend at the top of the road and drove through the garden wall, smashing into the living room of the newly refurbished Corbets Tey Road house.
Joyce and David Batten described the incident as a “tragedy” but thankfully nobody was harmed – as the driver was uninjured and the owners were away during the crash.
Mr Batten said: “It’s a dangerous bend and my wife has always said that one day a lorry would come through here.”
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Havering Council had outlined plans to build a giant rural pleasure park between Havering-atte-Bower and Collier Row.
Plans were made by the Greater London Council, who had spent a six-figure sum on acquiring and developing the 110-acre site.
The plans for the pleasure park included riding stables and a café. New access roads were planned as well as special equestrian riding paths and picnic areas for families.
There were several legal issues concerning the Greater London Council’s acquisition of the land as the area had approximately 140 different ownerships – including some which could not be traced.
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Rainham resident Ann Davis urged Britain’s housewives to fight against general rising prices.
Mrs Davis made a stand at a major trade union meeting, calling on housewives to take action. She said: “The women of this country have to get off their backsides and march through the streets to do something about it.”
Mrs Davis hoped to return to the trade union conference, saying: “It’s about time the women of this country took action.”
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Twenty years ago – 1993
The Dolphin swimming pool and leisure centre in Romford was set to be given its first water slide.
Members of Havering Council’s leisure and recreation committee gave the go-ahead for a 20-metre slide costing £25,000.
The pool was shut for about four weeks to install the slide. Improvements to the changing room facilities were also made after criticisms about its standards.
A report from the committee meeting said: “Water slides are a major attraction to young people and their parents and potentially can generate income.”
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Two men were victims of knife crime after being attacked by a group of thugs on Main Road, Romford.
The men, aged 21 and 22, both suffered 10-inch wounds after being slashed across the face. They were treated at Oldchurch Hospital.
Sgt David Hammond of Romford Police said: “It was a totally unprovoked attack. We believe a very sharp craft knife was used.
“This form of violence will not be tolerated in Romford.”
The incident took place after the two men left a nightclub.
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Twenty-year-old Justin Hayes, of Hornchurch, was fighting for his life after suffering severe head injuries following an attack outside a Romford nightclub.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “It is believed an argument broke out in their party and a group of four to six young men intervened in the dispute.”
Police appealed for information and witnesses to come forward.
Mr Hayes had gone into a coma after it was believed he received “kicks to the head” close to the Hollywood nightclub on Atlanta Boulevard.
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