A cheesy Looking Mayoral Candidate in 2002! One of the most fun times I have had politically, was standing for Mayor in Watford, England, a market town in the County of Hertfordshire where I grew up and where people with airs and graces end up with sad faces.
Watford is a place which typifies the very best of what England has to offer. As one of the most densely populated towns outside of London, the 91,000 inhabitants of Watford are a melting pot of almost every nationality or ethnic group that lives in the UK. According to the local newspaper one school is attended by children who speak 23 different languages or dialects. The Town is served by some of the best state schools in the country (Watford Boys' and Girls' Grammars, Parmiters School - exceptional in Maths) and several private schools that rank high in league tables (York House Prep School, Merchant Taylors, St Albans Boys and Girl’s).
Watford is a place which typifies the very best of what England has to offer. As one of the most densely populated towns outside of London, the 91,000 inhabitants of Watford are a melting pot of almost every nationality or ethnic group that lives in the UK. According to the local newspaper one school is attended by children who speak 23 different languages or dialects. The Town is served by some of the best state schools in the country (Watford Boys' and Girls' Grammars, Parmiters School - exceptional in Maths) and several private schools that rank high in league tables (York House Prep School, Merchant Taylors, St Albans Boys and Girl’s).
The 'Best Political Website of 2002' pushed communication boundaries through its use of Flash and candidate blogging with a low cost, home made content management system. We broke with tradition and did not use the political party name in the url since this was Britain's first direct mayoral election in history. Click on this image to see Gary4Watford.com designed by the UK's most innovative digital designer - Andy Miles at www.nmartist.co.uk
Ruling The World From Watford
Famous Winning people associated with Watford really do personify the place in that they are Wise, Wacky, well travelled (Wandering), determined (Wilful) and ambitious (Wannabees). Famous soccer player, Gazza Ball grabber (try Googling it!) and hard man actor Vinny Jones is from Watford. Ginger Spice, Gerry Halliwell is also a local lass. High Street Shopping Guru Mary Portas is Watford born and bred. Heavyweight boxing prospect and Olympic Gold medal winner, Anthony Joshua, learned to punch whilst living here. Most importantly, my Town even has its own Queen! Sir Elton John is Life President of Watford's successful Championship football side. Beat that Luton!
Congratulations to Sir @eltonjohndotcom the Queen of #Watford on his marriage to #DavidFurnish http://t.co/eiBJLawPGK Go For it #RocketMan!
— Gary Ling (@garysballs) December 22, 2014  This London Underground poster doesn't say but come see Harry Potter in Watford! | Anything that matters - movies, technical innovation, politics, major product launches - happens within this circle of influence. The Harry Potter (Warner's Bros) Studio Tour is in Watford and each day a big 'Harry Potter' branded double decker bus disgorges thousands of Potter fans to the vast sound studios on the Watford lot for a Hogwarts tour. On the same lot in any given week, you can often see and hear the sound effects where major movies with big stars are being filmed for later global distribution. |
Like driving? Watford intersects the M1 - M25 motorways and is 11 minutes from the M40, 20 from the M4 and 30 from the M3. More importantly, the town lies within the M25 - the UK's major road artery that circles its capital city.
In geographic terms if you like the 'north' but don't want to live there, then Watford is the place for you. England's second city, Birmingham, is 70 minutes away by fast train from Watford Junction. Liverpool, Manchester and the Lake District are destinations that demand no train switching and Scottish Caledonian Sleeper stops at the Junction each night so you can go to bed in Watford and awake in Inverness! Southern seaside towns more your cup of tea? Get a train straight to Brighton and avoid central London altogether.
Euston Station, a major London rail terminus is 22 minutes away with no stops. St Pancras and trains to the European continent 12 mins walk further on from Euston. Leave your home in Watford and you can be in Paris with a good wind in just
over three hours.
In geographic terms if you like the 'north' but don't want to live there, then Watford is the place for you. England's second city, Birmingham, is 70 minutes away by fast train from Watford Junction. Liverpool, Manchester and the Lake District are destinations that demand no train switching and Scottish Caledonian Sleeper stops at the Junction each night so you can go to bed in Watford and awake in Inverness! Southern seaside towns more your cup of tea? Get a train straight to Brighton and avoid central London altogether.
Euston Station, a major London rail terminus is 22 minutes away with no stops. St Pancras and trains to the European continent 12 mins walk further on from Euston. Leave your home in Watford and you can be in Paris with a good wind in just
over three hours.
| Just off Junction 19 of the M25 you'll find one of Britain's best hotels. Only 23 minutes from Heathrow airport, The Grove says it's in 'Chandlers Cross' but it's main entrance is in Watford. Hang out here year round to see famous footballers from the best Premiership sides and the national England football team as The Grove is the team's HQ before matches at Wembley Stadium (25 mins away). The NFL more your thing? See the Big Guys here as this is where one of the teams stay for the London International Series. From Golf to world domination, Watford has proven time and time again that it's the place to be... |  |
At last the FT prints what I have known all my life: 'The Whole World Can Be Ruled From #Watford'! #bilderberg pic.twitter.com/7wKrZI9QEN
— Gary Ling (@garysballs) June 5, 2013
