HMS Tireless breaks free from its moorings in Bovingdon Docks and heads up Hyde Meadows on April 1st 1977.
In 1977, Bovingdon experienced even worst flooding than that of February 2014 with many properties and 1,900 acres of agricultural land affected. The flooding was caused by a Force 10 storm, gusting to Force 12, over the Irish sea, which caused tides to reach a level of 24ft.
The flooding was extensive with homes, businesses, public buildings, water treatment works, roads and electricity all affected including the, then, Bovingdon Primary School swimming pool.
The, then, [tt] Bovingdon Fire Engine was briefly stuck in floods outside [tt], Bull public house (bottom of the High Street, near the Bell). David France, landlord of [tt] Wheatsheaf public house said: ‘Thankfully, there was no loss of life and no serious injury despite flooding reaching ceiling levels in some of our basements’.
The then, Royal Oak Public House was unaffected by the weather whilst Dave and Sandra had to cover the [tt] Horseshoe throwing alley at the Halfway House and Pigeon racing continued as usual at Bennys.
Local hero KH (Beano) fought surging waters to rescue one local man from his home as severe floods hit the village. A mountaineering-style traverse rope allowed the man to “zip-line” across to safety, as rising waters raged around his house. [tt] Gilberts coaches ferried the school children to Kings Langley and beyond as usual, although some children were seen throwing bags of flour from the rear window at passers by.
Banger racing continued on the airfield, despite objections from the local council over noise. Finally SpedeworthRacing closed in 2008 (only ten years then!).
Of course it wasn’t just the gipsies who were affected in Solders Bottom – the water flooded houses and roads too in Bovingdon and postponed the newly proprosed opening of a big national superstore (Co-op).
Now the Bourne Gutter – a small tributary of the Bulbourne rising between Berkhamsted and Bourne End – as then, is presently flowing (April 2014) due to the exceptionally wet winter being experienced nation wide.
Much else has changed!
(April 1st 2014)
