6MMERCURY June 13, 2008
email: mercury@hertsessexnews.co.ukLate-duty chemistsHERTFORD & WARE
8211
Fri: Boots Chemist,
Bircherley Green, Hertford, until 6.30pm. Sun:
Tesco,5 West Street, Ware, 11am-5pm. Mon-Fri:
Sheffield Pharmacy, 64 Fore Street, Hertford, 9am-
5.30pm; Sat:
9am-5pm.
CHESHUNT
8211
Mon-Sat: Tesco,Brookfield Centre,
8am-9pm; Boots, Brookfield Centre, 8am-midnight.
Sun: Tesco,Brookfield Centre, 10am-4pm; Boots,
Brookfield Centre, 10am-4pm.
CUFFLEY
8211Salepick, 26 Station Road; Monday to
Friday until 6.15pm.
BISHOP8217S STORTFORD
8211
Mon-Sat: Tesco,
Bishop8217s Park, 8am-8pm. Sun: Tesco,Bishop's
Park, 10am-4pm.
WELWYN GARDEN CITY
8211(all times 6pm-7pm,
unless stated otherwise). Fri: Lloyds Pharmacy,
Shoplands. Sun: Johns & Kelynack,Waitrose,
11am-5pm. Mon: Boots, Howard Centre. Tue: Hall
Grove Pharmacy,Hall Grove. Wed:
Moss Chemist,Drivers spotted shaving and eating breakfastHORRIFIED county council offi-
cers checking driver safety in
Hertford spotted one motorist
shaving, two putting on make-up
and others on mobile phones
while at the wheel oftheir cars.
Officers from Hertfordshire
County Council8217s road safety unit
observed 70 drivers in Gascoyne
Way between 8.15am and 9.15am
on Thursday last week.
They spotted drivers carrying
out a range ofactivities, includ-
ing two people rolling a cigarette
with two hands and another put-
ting on a tie.
They also recorded:q19 people on hand held mobile
phones;qeight people texting;q 13 people drinking hot drinks;q 17 people eating breakfast;q six people reading; andq one person adjusting a satellite
navigation system.
Inspector Philip Bloor, from
Herts police8217s road policing unit,
said: 8220Despite the warnings, it
seems many are still continuing
to use their phones at the wheel.
8220Ifthe risk ofseriously hurting
yourselfor taking your own or
somebody else8217s life isn8217t persua-
sion enough, consider the incon-
venience ofhaving to get your car
repaired, the cost ofyour insur-
ance going up and the likelihood
offacing serious penalties.
8220Turn offyour phone, put down
your morning coffee and focus on
the job in hand 8211 driving safely.8221
Road safety officers are willing
to visit companies in the area
with a driving simulator to
demonstrate the effects ofusing a
hand-held mobile phone on reac-
tion times. qContact Simon Hoggett on
(01992) 556802 or email
simon.hoggett@hertscc.gov.uk
to
arrange a visit.Tributes to popular
cricketer and dadA LARGE number ofpeople
paid their respects to a much-
loved Hertford family man and
influential cricket figure.John Lofting, ofThe Avenue in
Bengeo, died aged 69 after a brave
fight against cancer.
His family and friends attend-
ed a thanksgiving service last
Thursday at St Augustine8217s
Church in Broxbourne, where he
was married in 1966.
Tony Roberts, who was a fellow
pupil at Haileybury in the 1950s
and became a lifelong friend,
paid a generous tribute to him.
Mr Roberts played in the same
1st XI Haileybury team as Mr
Lofting, who was the skipper and
who later became assistant secre-
tary ofthe MCC (Marylebone
Cricket Club) during the 1970s.
Mr Roberts said: 8220He was
devoted to his family and he was
loyal to his friends. He was the
perfect captain.
8220The way he confronted his ill-
ness was an inspiration to us all.
His sense ofhumour never failed
and is the enduring image by
which we will always remember
him.8221
Mr Roberts described Mr
Lofting8217s working life, which
started with 14 years in the
Army.
He had joined the Middlesex
Regiment in 1957 and went on to
serve abroad, including
Northern Ireland, Germany,
Aden and British Guyana. An
opening batsman, he captained
the Army at cricket and also
played for the Combined
Services.
He was a captain by the time
he left the Army. He later joined
the MCC in 1974, where he spent
four happy years.
This included him managing
MCC teams that toured
Bangladesh and West Africa.
The rest ofhis working life
was then spent as deputy direc-
tor at the Lea Valley Park in
Enfield before he retired in 2001.
During his retirement, he had
served as general secretary of
the Haileybury Society.
Mr Roberts commented: 8220He
was the embodiment ofloyalty,
whether it be to his school, his
country or the Army.8221
Loving and kind tributes were
paid by his children, Alex and
Kate, for being such a great fami-
ly man and for his support and
interest in their lives.
The service was conducted by
the Rev Chris Briggs, chaplain at
Haileybury.
Mr Lofting is also survived by
a grandson, William.By DAVIDRIMMERrimmerd@hertsessexnews.co.ukTEAM PLAYER:Haileybury cricket captain in 1957, John Lofting, seated, centre, and Tony Roberts, seated,
left, who paid a glowing tribute to his old team-mate at a thanksgiving service in Tony8217s memory (s)Wildlife fears as oil slick and rubbish pollute riverFAMILIES ofducks were
forced to wade through an oil
slick which polluted part of
the River Lee in Hertford.
The oil slick affected areas
ofthe river between The
Folly and Mill Road, towards
the weir, and rubbish also col-
lected along the banks.
When the Mercury
went to
investigate on Tuesday after-
noon, the remnants could
still be seen, settled around
nests ofbirds.
Helen Cliffe, ofThornton
Street, said: 8220All the rubbish
was flowing in the oil slick.
8220I don8217t know whether it
was coming offone ofthe
boats. It was disgusting.
8220There were baby ducks
trying to swim through it. I8217m
concerned about the
wildlife.8221
Ms Cliffe said it is not the
first time the canal, which is
home to numerous barges,
has been contaminated. She
has seen plastic bags, bottles
and shopping trolleys in the
water.
In the three years she has
lived there, she says she has
only once seen British
Waterways, which maintains
the River Lee Navigation,
onsite.
She said: 8220We try to clear
up here as much as possible
and keep the place nice.
8220The mess there is
appalling. You look at the
water and see all this junk.8221
Simon Bamford, general
manager ofBritish
Waterways London, said: 8220We
continually work to care for
and maintain the River Lee
Navigation.
8220On a weekly basis, 67km
ofthe river is cleared offloat-
ing rubbish and debris using
workboats as well as the 8216Lee
Mean Clean Machine8217, which
removes rubbish and weed.
8220Unfortunately, residents
living near the river will see
rubbish in the water, but the
continual work ofthe team to
clear litter in this weekly
cycle, will hopefully mean
they see the rubbish removed
regularly.8221FILTHY:Rubbish floats in an oil slick on the River Lee in HertfordONTHEWEB
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