Orange coloured skies over Watford, the aftermath of Troy Deeney’s ‘cojones’ comments and celebrities spotted in the area were among the stories making our headlines five and ten years ago this week.
FIVE YEARS AGO
Saharan sands bring orange skies to Watford
Sands blown all the way from the Sahara Desert by Hurricane Ophelia turned the sky above Watford a peculiar shade of orange.
Behind the orangey brown gloom, the sun was seen to shine a deep red.
The phenomenon, caused by the remnants of Ophelia dragging dust particles and tropical air up from the African continent, was first seen in South West England but has gradually moved eastwards.
It is thought that debris from forest fires currently burning in Spain and Portugal also contributed to the unusual conditions.
Trains delayed and road blocked after skip lorry gets wedged under low bridge
Skip lorry blocks road after getting wedged under low bridge
There were long delays on the rails and roads after a skip lorry got trapped under a low bridge near a train station.
Jules Bernie posted a picture on Facebook, which showed traffic building at the rail station, in Station Road, Kings Langley, due to a vehicle blocking the road.
National Rail confirmed there were also delays of up to 15 minutes between Watford Junction and Milton Keynes rail stations due to trains running at reduced speeds of 20mph.
Silva spoke with Deeney over 'cojones' comments
Marco Silva spoke to captain Troy Deeney about his comments that Arsenal lacked "cojones" in Saturday's 2-1 win at Vicarage Road, the head coach confirmed.
Silva refused to say what the two had discussed on the back of Deeney's statement on BT Sport, which has rumbled on throughout the week with Per Mertesacker, Jack Wilshere and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger all reacting publicly.
The 40-year-old did not want to make such explicit statements about Deeney's opinion, voiced on BT Sport after the game, but made clear he had not agreed with the decision of his captain to broadcast it.
TEN YEARS AGO
England star spotted at cinema
Arsenal and England striker Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain celebrated scoring his first national goal with a trip to the cinema in Watford.
The 19-year-old winger visited the Vue cinema in the Woodside Leisure Centre on Saturday night, watching hostage-drama sequel "Taken 2".
The footballer took time to pose for a pic with young members of the Watford Harriers who were also watching the film.
On Friday night Oxlade-Chamberlain and his ten England team-mates thrashed San Marino 5-0 at Wembley, during a world cup qualifier.
X marks the spot for former X Factor winner Matt
Former X Factor winner Matt Cardle made his mark on a Rickmansworth tattooist when he went under the needle during a visit last weekend.
The former painter and decorator, 29, spent two hours in Renaissance Tattoo Studio having a quote tattooed onto his right forearm.
Matt shot to fame after wowing judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole on the show in 2010, securing that year’s Christmas number one with When We Collide.
Adie Kitachi, owner of Renaissance Tattoo Studio, admitted he initially didn’t recognise the singer – who beat Rebecca Ferguson and One Direction to the £1 million recording contract in the seventh series of the hit ITV show – but said they soon hit it off.
'Dancing Woman' statue officially unveiled in new home
A bronze statue of a dancing woman has been unveiled at its new home in the grounds of Cheslyn House – almost a year after it was damaged by vandals in Watford town centre.
The sculpture, known as the Dancing Woman, had formed part of a water feature outside Town Hall for many years but in December 2011 vandals stole one of the hands.
The repaired artwork was officially unveiled in Nascot Wood Road by Watford’s elected mayor Dorothy Thornhill and the son granddaughter and grandson of Percy King – who donated the sculpture to the town in 1962.
She said: “This wonderful piece of art has received a magnificent replacement hand and thorough repair from skilled craftspeople at Richard Rogers Conservation, and I am sure you agree it looks better than new”
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