Due to work commitments and making the most of post covid freedom I haven't filmed much recently, so I decided to have a quick jaunt around Hemel Town Centre in my lunch break. Follow on Twitter @WAround365 Instagram Wanderingaround365
I grew up there from 1963 to 1975. The town centre was all new and lovely when we arrived, I believe it went downhill later and some of the hastily constructed buildings (like the Shell Mex & BP computer centre which bridged Marlowes just before the Magic Roundabout) had to be pulled down. But looking at this, it appears to have smartened up again which is good to see. I still recognise some features, like the iconic(!) yellow panelling on that building at 09:00, which was also used to adorn matching a covered footbridge spanning Marlowes. The bus station used to be just across the river from the water gardens, with the outdoor market behind it. Basically, that area shown at 6:15 on the video. I believe the market was a deliberate feature by the new town planners, to make all the cockneys feel at home (the new town was to accommodate “overspill” population from ageing substandard housing in London.)
What have they done to my beloved Hemel?, my dad worked in the BP building crossing the road next to the Wagon & Horses, I used to have footy training on the fields where Tesco is & my mate went to Mountbatten school. All gone.
Mrs Richards: " I paid for a room with a view!" Basil: (pointing to the lovely view) "That is Torquay, Madam." Mrs Richards: "It's not good enough!" Basil: "May I ask what you were expecting to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window ? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically past?..." Mrs Richards: "Don't be silly! I expect to be able to see the sea!" Basil: "You can see the sea, it's over there between the land and the sky." Mrs Richards: "I'm not satisfied. But I shall stay. But I expect a reduction." Basil: "Why?! Because Krakatoa's not erupting at the moment ?
“What did you expect to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of Wildebeeste sweeping majestically across…”
