Nostalgia: Then and now in The Hounslow and Brentford Times

12:28am Friday 11th April 2008

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Ten years ago Ramblers are urging park managers to convert the much hyped leisure path' in Richmond Park into a cycling route only, after a bloody confrontation between a rider and a dog walker last month.

Richmond's riverside enjoyed by thousands every summer weekend, is set to become a cleaner and safer place thanks to another scheme. Police, pubs and Richmond council have teamed up to cut down on the crime and litter which have blighted the terraces by Richmond Bridge for years.

A 22 year old student from Hampton Hill outran two muggers who threatened him with a knife. The pair stopped him by Kingston Bridge and, twice ordered him to hand over his money.

Crumbling West Middlesex Hospital is to be demolished and rebuilt by a private developer within three years. A £38m hospital under one roof will replace decaying 16th century buildings in Isleworth.

An armed robber who leaped onto a bus with a £6,000 haul of Grand National betting stakes was foiled when police surrounded the vehicle. But the double decker had only travelled 400 yards down the road when officers stopped it.

Vandals have defaced the outer wall of historic Chiswick House with offensive graffiti. A stretch of the cream wall, which encloses the eighteenth century grounds and the 1720s stately home run by English Heritage, was last week spray-painted with slogans.

25 years ago What the opposition Liberal / Alliance members on Richmond upon Thames Council dubbed as a "grandiose municipal scheme" to assemble council staff on one central site in Twickenham has been approved, in principle by the council's policy and resources committee.

The recent 30 per cent rate rise announced by Richmond upon Thames Council has been defended by Twickenham's MP, Mr Toby Jessel. In a letter to constituents who complained about the levy he said that the domestic rate for the borough at 140.33 pence, contrasted with an average domestic rate for the 20 Outer London Boroughs of 149.7 pence and an average for the 32 boroughs including the whole of Greater London, of 158.6 pence.

Following a public protest, Hounslow council was last night due to consider whether to reopen the public loo in Lion Way, Brentford. The toilet was one of 14 heavily vandalised conveniences shut as part of the council's cost-cutting exercise in February 1982.

Growing unemployment among local youngsters has increased the urgency of reopening Chiswick swimming pool, says Chiswick House Area Residents' Association. CHRA secretary Irina Brunt points out that the baths were so well used during the "other depression"that the local authorities opened a second pool in April 1931.

50 years ago The Rev A W Beak, vicar of St Philip and All Saints' Church, North Sheen is convinced that children are responsible for the outbreak of malicious damage in the parish. He told a reporter yesterday that after complaining to the head of a local school the wilful damages had slackened.

Kew Gardens is to have the tallest flagstaff in the world - for a second time. The old flagstaff, familiar for 40 years and from which 60 feet was lopped off because of decay, is to be replaced by a 214-foot high Douglas fir. The old one was that height too.

Nine-years-old Graham Child, of 3, Marlborough-road, Isleworth, was a rich little boy for a few hours on Thursday, for while he was playing on a bomb site at Busch corner, Isleworth, he found a thick wad of £1 notes, more than £100 in all.

Although W B Yeats, the Irish poet who wrote Down by the Sally Gardens' once lived at 3, Blenheim Road, Chiswick, there is no plaque in commemoration. Many of the people living in the road don't even know he lived there. One man who does know is 32-years-old Mr William Keen, who has lived in a flat in the house for the past 11 years. "I did hear that he once lived here and I think a plaque should be put up. After all, he was a great poet wasn't he?" he said.

100 years ago An interesting ceremony took place at the Twickenham Fire Station on Wednesday evening last, when presentations were made to three of the retiring fireman. Mr Alison resided and referred to the object of the gathering. He said he was sure that all those who were connected with the town must hold the members of the fire brigade in great respect. They, who were from time to time risking their lives for the benefit of those in danger should command greater respect than at present.

Brentford Photographic Society. In connection with this society, which is now in its ninth season, a very successful "at home" was held at the Half Acre Schools on Wednesday, when there was an attendance of between sixty and seventy members, and Mr William Squires, one of the vice-presidents occupied the chair. The gathering was held with the object of encouraging beginners and securing new members.