Watford
Notes and News
Branch Officers:
Secretary: David Fairhurst,
Fairlyn, 115 Rose Drive, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1RT
Telephone 01494 786119
email: watford@rcts.org.uk
Chairman: Rob Freeman
Telephone: 01442 862197
ABOUT WATFORD
Situated 18 miles north of central London, Watford has a population of about 120,000.
The town is well known for shopping in the Harlequin centre and on the High Street. Watford has a Championship league football team, sharing their Vicarage Road ground with rugby club Saracens. Situated just inside the M25 Watford is within a very short distance of the M1, M25 and M40 and with the West Coast Main Line running almost through its centre is easily accessible.
Our RCTS branch meeting place is just a short walk (less than 10 minutes) from Watford Junction station. The Branch meets at St. Thomas’s United Reform Church in Langley Road. To reach us leave the station by the main entrance and turn right towards the traffic lights now facing you. Once at these traffic lights cross St. Albans Road and proceed straight ahead, this is Langley Road. St. Thomas’s Church is about 500 metres on the right hand side opposite “The Southern Cross” public house.
The Watford Branch meet on the first Tuesday every month (except August) at 19.30 hrs. We have speakers on wide ranging railway subjects from around the world usually bringing slides or films to enhance their talk. Our Branch AGM is held on another Tuesday in January, when Branch business is discussed and some plans made for the forthcoming year. This is normally followed by contributions from members, as is our December meeting “Member’s slides and Mince pies” which is one of the most popular meetings of the year. During July and August the Branch holds outside meetings at places of interest, or travels on the railway system within the area. We also attend local model railway and model engineering exhibitions promoting the Society whilst trying to encourage new members.
The railway serves Watford well, with Silverlink County and Virgin train services stopping at very frequent intervals. Virgin main line services serve the Midlands, the North West, Manchester, Liverpool, Holyhead and Scotland, whilst Silverlink County runs a commuter service to and from London Euston, Hemel Hempstead, Milton Keynes and Northampton. There is also a local branch line between Watford Junction and St. Albans. Silverlink Metro services operate from London Euston serving all suburban stations and terminating at Watford Junction. Watford is also the destination of an hourly Southern service from Brighton via Clapham Junction and Kensington Olympia. Finally you can reach Watford by the Metropolitan line of the London Underground system. Unfortunately the “Met” station is the furthest away from the town centre making it the most inconvenient for visitors. Watford also sees considerable amount of passing freight traffic particularly in the late evening and throughout the night.
If you are in the Home Counties or London come and pay us a visit. We are sure you will enjoy it.
Contacts for the Branch are Bernie Holland (0208 863 3223) and David Fairhurst (01494 786119)
 |