Weblogic Joomla Template Demo

An Abbots pensioner was left £100 out of pocket after a rogue trader conned her into thinking he was a gardening and maintenance man. Ethel Stockwell,, 94, from Broomfield Rise, opened her front door to the man who offered to tidy up her garden and trim her Holly Tree. After Ethel agreed to the man’s offer, he carried out around ten minutes worth of work, which involved trimming a few branches. He then told her that he would need to go away and pick up some specialist tools to tidy up the rest of the garden. To do this, he claimed he would need £100 in cash on the spot for the necessary tools. Unaware that she was about to be conned, the Abbots pensioner handed over the money to the man, who drove off in his van, never to return. He left more mess than there had been to start with.

The whole ordeal has left the 94-year-old terribly upset and distraught. It has even left her questioning her faith in humanity. Due to this magazine’s focus on community spirit, My Abbots approached a local gardener to tidy up the mess the rogue trader had left behind, and finish the job he had barely started, and for that we thank him.

This experience is one that people should learn from. Nobody wants to get conned by someone cold calling at your door, so if in doubt, tell them you are not interested and kindly ask them leave.

A four-year-old Abbots boy suffered an horrific ordeal after having to be rushed to hospital to repair an earlier operation that went wrong. Jack Del Greco, son of Paul and Anita, who live on Hazelwood Lane, had to be taken to hospital by ambulance after Anita spotted blood down by his waist.  This was the result of an earlier orchidopex, which is a procedure in which a boy's undescended testicles are surgically pulled from the abdomen down into the scrotum.  Following the surgery,  the surgeon told Paul and Anita that Jack had two incisions, one on his lower side, which had been closed by dissolvable stitches, and the other under his scrotum ,which had been glued. The operation was supposed to be a routine 20-30 minute procedure, but ended up taking an hour and a half after a large hernia was found.  They left the day surgery at 5.30pm that evening, and would have hoped that Jack could rest and recuperate.  However, at 10pm, Anita noticed that Jack was uncomfortably hot, and worse still, spotted blood around his waist area.  She looked at his earlier surgery and noticed that, to her horror, his testicle was protruding.  After being rushed to Watford General, Jack was taken to surgery at 1am to repair the wound, and was subsequently placed on a drip. With the surgery complete, the next thing on the minds of Paul and Anita was how on earth something like this could happen?  When they questioned the surgeon, he simply stated that the glue had not worked in the first operation.  The hospital have said they will launch an internal investigation. A letter from the West Herts Hospitals said sutures were used in the first operation and not glue, and also stated Jack would have been regularly checked following the operation.  The family are adamant that at no time were suture used in the first operation, and this was confirmed by the surgeon who carried out the second piece of surgery.Jack was left traumatised by the whole ordeal, but is now well after recovering from his nightmare.  The family have been advised to lodge a complaint by PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Services) and will consider pursuing the possibility of compensation.

A major mobile phone communications company appear to be losing the fight to erect a telephone mast in Breakspeare Road after receiving strong opposition.

The Abbots Langley Parish Council’s Planning & Highways Committee sat recently to discuss the planning application from O2 for the erection of a 12.5 metre slim line telecommunications column with three supporting antennae and associated equipment cabinets, all within a fenced compound to be installed at Future Autos, 137 Breakespeare Road. Along with the committee, three members of the public attended and were given the opportunity to voice their concerns about the proposal. The main issue that concerned residents was the possible health hazards that phone masts can potentially create. In an article in The Independent last month, it stated that aerials can cause nausea, memory loss, or even worse, cancer. The fact that it would be located close to a school did not go down well either, and nor did the possibility of having a 12.5 meter eye sore in the village. Councillor Sue Bartwick is just one of those who sees no benefit from 02’s proposal. She said: “It is appalling to consider putting this in the midst of a residential area. It is totally inappropriate and totally out of keeping.” Chairman of the Planning and Highways Commission Ivy Young echoed the thoughts of councillor Bartwick, saying: “The Parish Council object strongly this application. This committee is very concerned with what goes on in this Parish.”

Owner of Future Autos John Smith has reassured residents that he too is against the planned mast. With so many people having voiced their concerns, they can add John to the list of those who will object to 02’s controversial idea. He said: “This is a no goer as far as I am concerned. If any of the residents did not know, all they had to was ask me. I enjoy a good relationship with my neighbours and would certainly think twice about housing anything as controversial as a mobile mast.”

Sheffields: was established in 1947 by Hugh Sheffield at 45 High Street, Abbots Langley (now Abbey Pharmacy). Quickly building a reputation in electrical retail, repair and rentals, business was so brisk that larger premises were soon needed so Mr Sheffield built a new shop at the present location - 65 High Street. When it was opened in April 1958 by popular singer, Malcolm Vaughan, the large crowd that assembled necessitated police presence!

Perhaps you were there? Number 67 High Street (now the toy shop), was built on later and opened in June 1962 by radio and TV presenter, Peter Haigh and his wife. How many of you can remember using the listening booths before buying your favourite 45’s or LP’s? In 1976, Sheffields was the only business in the Watford area at the time to receive the Distributive Training Aware - a government award for high standards of staff training.

Hugh Sheffield finally retired in the mid 80’s and sold the company to Len and Dawn Newell.

Jeff Hill joined the staff team as shop manager in 1989 and subsequently became the new owner when Len and Dawn retired in April 2000.

Since then the shop has been given a facelift including built-in kitchen displays and the complete refurbishment of the 1st floor. Customers can now experience Digital and HD TV in a comfortable setting through our quality range of LCD and Plasma screens and surround sound systems. There have been huge technological advances in the last 60 years, so, it is good news for local residents and businesses alike that Sheffields has all the latest technology, whilst endeavouring to retain the essential characteristics of a family-run Village shop and uphold the original motto

“Sheffields for Value and Service’’.