Watford
—  Town and Borough  —
Borough of Watford
Official logo of Watford Coat of Arms of Watford Borough Council
Motto: Audentior[1]
Watford within Hertfordshire
Coordinates: 51°39′18″N 0°23′44.5″W / 51.655°N 0.395694°W / 51.655; -0.395694Coordinates: 51°39′18″N 0°23′44.5″W / 51.655°N 0.395694°W / 51.655; -0.395694
Country	United Kingdom
Constituent country	England
Region	East of England
County	Hertfordshire
Borough	Watford
UK Parliament constituency	Watford
Government
• Type	Elected Mayor & Cabinet
• Mayor	Dorothy Thornhill (Liberal Democrat)
• MP	Richard Harrington (Conservative)
Area
• Borough	21 km2 (8.3 sq mi)
Elevation	71 m (233 ft)
Population
• Borough	80,000
• Density	3,700/km2 (9,600/sq mi)
• Ethnicity[2]	83.0% White 9.2% South Asian 3.5% Black 2.5% Mixed Race 1.6% Chinese or other
Time zone	GMT
• Summer (DST)	Summer Time (British) (UTC+1)
Postcode area	WD
Area code(s)	01923 & 020
ONS code	26UK
Website	www.watford.gov.uk

Watford ⁱ/ˈwɒtfərd/ is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated 18 miles (29 km) northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.

Watford was created as an urban district under the Local Government Act 1894, and became a municipal borough by grant of a charter in 1922. The borough had 79,726 inhabitants at the time of the 2001 Census.^[3] The most recent official estimates put the population of Watford at 79,600 at mid-2006.^[4]

The nearby areas of Croxley Green, Bushey, Rickmansworth, Chorleywood, Kings Langley, Abbots Langley, Carpenders Park and South Oxhey, located in Three Rivers and Hertsmere districts, also form part of the Watford postcode area. The Watford subdivision of the Greater London Urban Area, which includes much of the neighbouring districts, had a total population of 120,960 in the 2001 census.^[5]

History[link]

Origins[link]

Watford stands on a low hill near the point at which the River Colne was forded by travellers between London and the Midlands. This route, originally a pre-Roman trackway, departed from the ancient Roman Watling Street at Stanmore, heading for the Gade valley and thence up the Bulbourne valley to a low and easily traversed section of the Chiltern Hills near Tring. The modern High Street follows the route of this road.^[6][7]

The ford was close to the later site of a gas works site. The town probably originated in Saxon times as a string of houses on the northern side of this ford. It was located on the first dry ground above the marshy edges of the River Colne. It is generally agreed that the town is named after the ford, but the origin of the first part of the name is uncertain. Theories include the Old English words wæt (wet), wadan (wade), watul (wattle, a fence) or wath (hunter), Watling Street, and a hypothetical Saxon landowner called "Wata".^[7]

Early history[link]

Watford is first mentioned in an Anglo-Saxon charter of 1007. It does not get a mention by name in the Domesday Book, but was included in the entry for the then more important settlement of Cashio which stood half a mile away at the crossroads of the St Albans road and Hempstead road near the modern Town Hall.^[8]

The settlement's location helped it to grow, since as well as trade along this north-south through route it possessed good communications into the vale of St Albans to the east and into the Chiltern Hills along the valley of the River Chess to the west. In 1100 Henry I granted a charter to Watford to hold a weekly market.^[6]

St Mary's Church

The parish church of St Mary the Virgin was built in 1230 on the same site as an earlier Saxon church. It was extensively restored in 1871.^[9]

The great houses of Cassiobury and The Grove were built in the seventeenth centuries and expanded and developed throughout the following centuries. Cassiobury became the family seat of the Earls of Essex, and The Grove the seat of the Earls of Clarendon.^[8]

The Sparrows Herne turnpike was established in 1762 to improve the route across the Chilterns, with the road maintained from charges levied at toll houses along the way. The location of a toll house can be seen at the bottom of Chalk Hill on the Watford side of Bushey Arches close to the Wickes hardware store; set in an old flint stone wall is a Sparrows Herne Trust plaque.^[10]

Industrial Revolution[link]

Watford remained an agricultural community with some cottage industry for many centuries. The Industrial Revolution brought the Grand Junction Canal (now Grand Union Canal) in 1798 and the London and Birmingham Railway in 1837, both located here for the same reasons the road had followed centuries before, seeking an easy gradient over the Chiltern Hills. The land-owning interests permitted the canal to follow closely by the river Gade, but the prospect of smoke-emitting steam trains drove them to ensure the railway gave a wide berth to the Cassiobury and Grove estates. Consequently, although the road and canal follow the easier valley route, the railway company was forced to build an expensive tunnel under Leavesden to the north of the town. The main Watford railway station was and remains outside of the town centre to the east at Watford Junction.^[11]

These developments gave the town excellent communications and stimulated its industrial growth during the 19th and 20th centuries. The Grand Union Canal, allowed coal to be brought into the district and paved the way for industrial development. The Watford Gas and Coke Company was formed in 1834 and gas works built. The canal allowed paper-making mills to be sited at Croxley. The John Dickinson and Co. Mill beside the canal here manufactured the Croxley brand of fine quality paper. The paper making influenced the development of printing in the town which continues today. There had been brewing in Watford from the 17th century and, by the 19th century, two industrial scale brewers Benskin’s and Sedgwick’s were located in the town.^[12]

Economy[link]

Watford is a major regional centre for the northern home counties. It is the most westerly of these commercial centres and the only one in Hertfordshire. Hertfordshire County Council designates Watford and Stevenage to be its major sub-regional centres, heading its list of preferred sites for retail development.^[13] The primary shopping area is the Harlequin Shopping Centre, a large purpose-built indoor mall with over 140 shops, restaurants and cafes built during the 1990s, opened officially in June 1992.

High Street, running through the town centre, is the main focus of activity at night having a high concentration of the town's bars, clubs and restaurants.

The head offices of a number of national companies such as British Waterways, J D Wetherspoon, Camelot Group, operator of the National Lottery; Iveco, manufacturers of commercial vehicles; Haden Young, the building services division of Balfour Beatty; Bathstore, the largest bathroom retailer in the UK; construction firm Taylor Woodrow; and Mothercare, are located in the town. The borough is also the UK base of many multi-nationals including C.H. Robinson, Total Oil, Sanyo, TK Maxx, Costco, Vinci, and Beko. International golf tournaments such as the 2006 World Golf Championship have taken place at the Grove hotel.

The town was home to the Scammell Lorries Factory from 1922 until its closure in 1988. The site is now a residential area. Tandon motorcycles, founded by Devdutt Tandon, were also manufactured in Colne Way, By-Pass road, Watford from 1947 until 1959. Models included the Imp, the Milemaster, the Superglide and the Kangaroo.

Plans are underway to develop a new health campus complete with heliport adjacent to the site of the current Watford General Hospital.

Transport[link]

Cycling[link]

Watford town centre and the surrounding area is compact and the terrain is generally flat with more than 20 km of direct cycle routes avoiding busy roads. In Watford cycling to work makes up 2.26% of all journeys compared with 1.8% across the whole of Hertfordshire.^[14]

National Cycle Route 6 and 61 run to the south and east of the town along the Ebury Way and the Colne Valley Cycle Route. A cycle track runs through the pedestrianised parts of the town centre along The Parade and the High Street. Sheffield and Harrogate Hoop cycle parking is provided at intermittent points all along the High Street and throughout the town centre

Road[link]

Watford is close to strategic roads – the M25 motorway that rings London and the M1 motorway that connects London to the Midlands and northern England.

Bus[link]

Watford is served by buses which link it to the wider surrounding area. These are operated by a number of different companies, including Arriva Shires & Essex, Arriva London, Uno, Red Rose Travel, Carousel, Mullany's Buses, Redline Buses and Tiger Line. Although the town is in close proximity to London, the majority of buses do not accept TFL's Oyster Card as a valid method of payment; however PlusBus, Intalink Explorer and Hertfordshire SaverCard is accepted on all but the London Bus routes.

Rail[link]

The town is served by one of the principal National Rail north-south rail routes – the West Coast Main Line – which connects London (terminus at London Euston) to the Midlands, north-west England and Scotland. Some long-distance trains on this route serve Watford Junction, where there are also frequent suburban and regional trains. There is a shuttle train service to St Albans, via some local stations in North Watford, and a direct rail connection to East Croydon via Clapham Junction. London Overground services run from Watford Junction along a suburban loop to Watford High Street station and Bushey station, continuing along the Watford DC Line to London Euston.

London Underground serves Watford Metropolitan Line station at the outer north-western boundary of the Tube system. The station is located outside the centre of Watford, close to Cassiobury Park. If the proposed Croxley Rail Link goes ahead, the Metropolitan Line branch would be diverted to Watford Junction via the disused Croxley Green branch, providing two new Underground stations between Croxley and Watford Junction.^[15]

It was once suggested that Regional Eurostar services could run via Watford to Paris via Kensington Olympia, but such plans were later abandoned.^[16][17] The Select Committee on Environment, Transport and the Regions recommended:

"We believe that Watford is well placed to become an integrated transport hub, and we recommend that the Government's review should consider what benefits and costs would be associated with direct services from Watford, and thorough services on the West Coast Main Line calling at Watford. Subject to the review's findings, we recommend that services from Watford to Paris should commence as soon as possible. The proposal for a Watford hub, as outlined in broad terms in ICRR's report is of interest to the Government. If there is a possibility that services to link the regions to the Channel Tunnel could be provided by such a link, the Government would be keen to see such a service operate."^[18]

Water[link]

Watford is on the main Grand Union Canal route northwards from London. There is little commercial use, since the advent of the motorways, but the canal is used for recreational purposes.

The River Gade and the River Colne also run through Watford.

Air[link]

Regular and frequent bus and coach services connect Watford Junction station to Heathrow Airport and Luton Airport. Direct train services run from Watford Junction Station to Birmingham International Airport and also used to run to Gatwick (since 2009 it is necessary to change train at Clapham Junction or London Euston and London Victoria Station).

Watford's closest airfield is Elstree Aerodrome, 3 miles (5 km) east of the town. Several private charter companies and flying clubs are based there.

The Rolls Royce or de Havilland factory as it was known in the Second World War at Leavesden was responsible for the manufacture of the Mosquito fighter bomber and the Halifax bomber and later became Leavesden Aerodrome, to the north of Watford. No longer operational, it was converted into Leavesden Film Studios, now famously the home of the Harry Potter films.

Education[link]

History[link]

Watford Free School building

William Saunders noted in 1595 a "George Redhead, schoolmaster" of Watford, and in 1640 Francis Combe gave £10 a year to a Free School in Watford for teaching the poor to cast accounts, to read English and to write.^[6] It was recorded then that, "The master hath the use of a room over two houses belonging to the Church Estate, nearest the churchyard." In 1704, Mrs Elizabeth Fuller of Watford Place built a new Free School for forty boys and twenty girls on her land next to the churchyard, with rooms for a Master and a Mistress.^[11]

In the mid-19th century, the only schools in Watford were Mrs Fuller's Free School, by now in a poor state, and St Mary's National Schools (separate schools for boys and girls) in Church Street. All offered elementary education. State-funded elementary schools began to appear in the 1860s and 1870s. The Free School closed in 1882, and its endowment contributed to founding the Watford Endowed Schools, which provided secondary education and charged fees.^[19] After these schools, now called the Watford Grammar School for Boys and the Watford Grammar School for Girls, moved to new sites in 1907 and 1912, the building housed the Watford Central School, which taught pupils up to the age of 14. St Mary's National Schools closed in 1922, and the site is now a car park.^[20][21]

The London Orphan Asylum, later Reed's School, was located near Watford Junction station between 1871 and 1940. The buildings are now the Reeds housing estate off Orphanage Road.

Primary schools[link]

All the state-funded primary schools in Watford are co-educational. Under an earlier system, schools were divided into infant schools, covering Reception and Years 1 and 2, and junior schools, covering Years 3 to 6. Most such schools have amalgamated to form Junior Mixed Infant schools or (equivalently) primary schools, and all new schools are of this type. Within the municipal borough, there are now 6 linked pairs of infant schools and junior schools, and 14 JMI or primary schools, of which 2 are Roman Catholic. Watford is also served by schools in the neighbouring districts of Three Rivers and Hertsmere.

Secondary schools[link]

Although all state-funded secondary schools in Hertfordshire are comprehensive, there is a great deal of differentiation in the southwestern corner of the county, centred on Watford but also including most of the Three Rivers district and Bushey in Hertsmere district. Within this area, there are:^[22]

• partially selective schools, which offer a proportion of places according to ability or aptitude, and the rest to siblings or those living near the school: Parmiter's School, Queens' School, Rickmansworth School, St Clement Danes School, Watford Grammar School for Boys and Watford Grammar School for Girls.
• Bushey Meads School, which selects 10% for technological aptitude and uses banded admissions to ensure a comprehensive intake for the remainder.
• non-selective Roman Catholic schools, whose intake is evenly spread: St Joan of Arc Catholic School and St Michael's Catholic High School.^[23]
• other non-selective schools, whose intake is markedly affected by the above partially selective schools: The Bushey Academy, Francis Combe Academy and Westfield Community Technology College.^[24]
• Falconer School, a school for boys with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

The partially selective schools and Bushey Meads School operate common admissions tests in mathematics and non-verbal reasoning each autumn. In addition to those seeking selective places, all applicants to Bushey Meads and Queens' Schools are required to take the tests, so they are taken by the majority of Year 6 children in the area. The partially selective schools also operate a common test and audition procedure to select children for specialist music places.^[22]

Results achieved by the schools at GCSE are also widely spread, including the three highest and the two lowest scoring state schools within Hertfordshire.^[25][26] The area also has by far the highest incidence in the county of children allocated to schools to which they had not applied.^[27]

Further education[link]

The Watford Campus of West Herts College is situated on Hempstead Road just north of the High Street. It is the only Grade 1 College in the United Kingdom according to a recent Ofsted report. (As of September 2011)

Higher education[link]

The Centre for Missional Leadership (CML) is the Watford campus of the London School of Theology and is located on The Parade. The London School of Theology is Europe's largest evangelical theological college.^[28] The Centre for Missional Leadership teaches an applied theology course in missional leadership, equipping Christians to go into the secular workplace. The course is accredited by Middlesex University.

Sport[link]

Watford v Coventry at Vicarage Road in May 2000

Watford is home to professional football team Watford F.C., who reached the FA Cup Final in 1984 (as well as four other semi-finals), also finishing as league Division One (now the Premier League) runners-up in 1983. They were relegated from the old Division One in 1988. In 1996, Watford were relegated from the new Division One (now the Football League Championship).

Watford won the then Nationwide Division Two championship in 1998, then the following season (1998–99) reached the Premier League by winning the First Division Play-Off Final, beating Bolton Wanderers F.C. at Wembley Stadium by two goals to nil. The club were relegated the season after.

After five years of uncertainty, Watford won the Football League Championship Play-Off Final against all the odds to achieve promotion to the Premier League once again in 2006, this time beating Leeds United A.F.C. by three goals to nil. Again, as before they were relegated to the Football League Championship after a single season (2006–2007) in the Premier League.

Singer-songwriter Sir Elton John is a keen, long-term supporter of Watford F.C. and a former club chairman. He still maintains his links with Watford as Honorary Life President.^[29]

Since 1997 the club has shared its ground, Vicarage Road, with Saracens Rugby Football Club.

Watford also has a Non-League football team Sun Postal Sports F.C. who play at The Sun Postal Sports & Social Club.

Watford is also home to the Watford Cheetahs American Football team who play their home games at Fullerians R.F.C.

Places of interest[link]

Cassiobury Park[link]

Daffodils in Cassiobury Park.

Cassiobury Park was formed from the grounds of Cassiobury House and consists of 190 acres (0.77 km²) of open space. The house itself was demolished in 1927 and the original imposing gatehouse entrance – the Cassiobury Gates – in the 1970s, due to road widening. In July 2007, the park won a Green Flag Award, which recognises the best green spaces in the country.^[30] It has a children's play area which includes a paddling pool, play equipment, mini train track for children's rides, bouncy castle, ice cream van and a kiosk where you can buy food and drinks. The Grand Union Canal passes through the park.

The name derives from a Celtic tribe the Cassii said to have inhabited the area in pre-Roman times.

Watford Colosseum[link]

Formerly known as the Watford Town Hall Assembly Rooms, Watford Colosseum is a hall of exceptional musical merit. In 2009 Classic Concerts Trust, which presented orchestral concerts there for many years, commissioned a report on the acoustics from Paul Scarbrough of the US firm Akustiks which can be downloaded from this link.

Throughout the second half of the twentieth century the hall was used for concerts and recordings by leading orchestras and artists. Failing finances led to closure by Watford Borough Council in 1994, after which a lease was acquired for private operation. Subsequent to this Classic Concerts Trust revived orchestral concerts with presentations by the English Classical Players and in successive years built a strong and loyal following for concerts there. From 2007 an innovative business model helped stimulate further growth in public support and audience growth.

The Watford Colosseum was used to record the Lord of the Rings, the Sound of Music, The Star Wars Trilogies, Sleepy Hollow soundtracks and is world renowned for its acoustic qualities, which are often said to be the best available in the UK. Among many famous classical recordings made there is Julian Lloyd Webber's performance of Elgar's Cello Concerto, conducted by Yehudi Menuhin.

It has housed performances from world renowned performers as The Who, Robbie Williams, One Direction and Oasis.

It is regularly used to host concerts by the BBC Concert Orchestra, in particular the long running Friday Night is Music Night. Laura, Austin and Amy from the X-Factor have also performed there.

After the management company collapsed in 2004, the hall was managed by Watford Council until April 2010, when it closed to undergo a major refurbishment. Reopen August 2011 - https://watfordcolosseum.co.uk/online/default.asp with new management.

Watford Palace Theatre[link]

The Watford Palace Theatre.

The Watford Palace Theatre is the only producing theatre in Hertfordshire. It presents a selection of comedy, drama, world premieres, family friendly shows and an annual traditional pantomime. Situated just off the High Street, the Edwardian theatre building is approaching its centenary and has recently been refurbished.

The Pumphouse Theatre and Arts Centre[link]

The Pump House Theatre and Arts Centre is based in an old pumping station situated in Watford's lower high street. The building was converted for use as a theatre, with rehearsal rooms, and meeting place for local arts based groups. Current facilities include a 124 seat theatre, rehearsal rooms, and live music venue. Community groups currently meeting at the Pump House include Dance House (children's ballet), Pump House Clog Morris (women's Morris dancing), Pump House Jazz (jazz club), Open House (live open mic music), Woodside Morris Men (men's Morris dancing), child, youth and adult theatre groups and also the Giggle Inn comedy club.^[31]

"North of Watford" and "Watford Gap"[link]

The phrase "North of Watford" is used in a light-hearted, yet derogatory sense—typically by those living in south eastern England—to describe any part of the United Kingdom situated more than a relatively short distance north of London and the Home Counties. It is a euphemism for 'provincial' and by extension 'unsophisticated'. It is commonly understood that the term is in fact highly arbitrary and flexible, applying to an approximate latitude rather than the town of Watford itself, but its use has contributed to a mildly negative association with the place name. However, in modern usage the term generally denotes the English Midlands and Northern England. See Bombay Hills for a similar cultural border concept in New Zealand.

The phrase is also linked to the Watford Gap, a motorway service station on the main north-south M1 motorway, which is located 50 miles north of the town.

Nearby areas[link]

Areas outside Watford Borough:

Twin towns[link]

Watford has five twin towns:^[32]

• Mainz, Germany (since 1956)
• Nanterre, France (since 1960)
• Novgorod, Russia (since 1984)
• Wilmington, Delaware, United States (since 1985)
• Pesaro, Italy (since 1988)

Notable people[link]

Watford was the birthplace of:

• Barbara Amiel, journalist
• Stephen Andrew, Canadian television reporter, anchor and talk show host
• Grant Benson, broadcaster
• Michael Bentine (1922–1996), comedian and ex-Goon
• Anthony Berkeley Cox (1893–1971), crime fiction author
• Michaela Breeze, weightlifter
• LTJ Bukem, drum & bass DJ/producer
• Sue Cleaver, actress, best known as Eileen Grimshaw in Coronation Street
• Jack Collison, West Ham United and Wales footballer
• Ray Cooper, percussionist (performed in both Elton John's and Eric Clapton's bands)
• Chris Date, database guru, author of the definitive textbook on the subject^[33]
• Paul Field 1994 Gladiators champion, police officer and two-time Winter Olympian from South Oxhey
• Steven Finn, Middlesex and England cricketer
• Cyril Fletcher (1913–2005), comedian
• Declan Ganley, businessman and political activist
• Philip Glenister, actor, Life on Mars
• Robert Glenister, actor
• Geri Halliwell, singer and Spice Girl
• Kenny Jackett, Welsh International footballer who spent his entire playing career at Watford now manager of Millwall
• Vinnie Jones, footballer turned actor
• Matt King, comedy actor, Peep Show
• Nick Knight, cricketer
• Nick Leeson, securities trader responsible for the collapse of Barings Bank in 1995
• Tim Lovejoy, television and radio presenter
• Craig Mackail-Smith, Brighton and Scotland footballer
• Gerald Moore (1899–1987), pianist
• Mo Mowlam (1949–2005), Labour politician
• J.D. Nicholas, singer with Heatwave and The Commodores
• Mark Oaten, Liberal Democrat politician
• Stuart Parkin, physicist
• Arthur Peacocke (1924–2006), biochemist and Anglican theologian
• James Pritchett, footballer for New Zealand
• Alex Roy, professional darts player
• Paul Robinson, Bolton Wanderers football player
• Terry Scott (1927–1994), TV and Carry On actor and comedian, blue plaque at 32 Tucker St 51°39′01″N 0°23′39″W / 51.650354°N 0.394242°W / 51.650354; -0.394242^[34][35]
• Grant Shapps, Conservative MP for nearby Welwyn Hatfield
• Robert Simons (1922-2011), cricketer
• Kelly Smith, England and Boston Breakers footballer
• Gareth Southgate, former football player for Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and England, also managed Middlesbrough
• The Staves, up and coming folk trio
• Simon Treves, actor and writer
• Ian Walker, former Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City, Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper
• Bradley Walsh, actor and comedian
• Mark Walsh, professional darts player
• Arthur Woodward, footballer who spent his entire career at Watford
• Mike Duce, vocalist of Lower Than Atlantis

Watford is the burial place of:

• Thomas Webster Rammell, engineer Crystal Palace

See also[link]

• Mayor of Watford
• Watford (UK Parliament constituency)
• Benskins
• Odhams Press
• Watford Observer

Thomas Rogers 1620 Mayflower Pilgrim . signed the Mayflower Compact.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Watford Borough Council
• Watford Observer Newspaper
• Watford Palace Theatre
• Watford Museum
• Watford, Hertfordshire, A Vision of Britain Through Time, Department of Geography, University of Portsmouth.
• A Short History of Watford from the Geography department of Haberdashers School Accessed October 2006
• Watford Genealogy on A Guide to Old Hertfordshire
• The Pump House Theatre and Arts Centre
• Famous Watfordians

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Watford

v t e Districts of the East of England Essex Basildon Braintree Brentwood Castle Point Chelmsford Colchester Epping Forest Harlow Maldon Rochford Southend-on-Sea Tendring Thurrock Uttlesford Hertfordshire Broxbourne Dacorum East Hertfordshire Hertsmere North Hertfordshire St Albans Stevenage Three Rivers Watford Welwyn Hatfield Bedfordshire Bedford Central Bedfordshire Luton Cambridgeshire Cambridge East Cambridgeshire Fenland Huntingdonshire Peterborough South Cambridgeshire Norfolk Breckland Broadland Great Yarmouth King's Lynn and West Norfolk North Norfolk Norwich South Norfolk Suffolk Babergh Forest Heath Ipswich Mid Suffolk St Edmundsbury Suffolk Coastal Waveney

Alison Moyet
Alison Moyet, Dublin 2008
Background information
Birth name	Geneviève Alison Jane Moyet
Also known as	Alf
Born	(1961-06-18) 18 June 1961 (age 51)
Origin	Billericay, Essex, England
Genres	New Wave, synthpop (with Yazoo), pop, rock, blues
Years active	1981–present
Labels	Columbia, Sanctuary, W14 Music, Sony Music
Associated acts	Yazoo, The Vandals
Website	alisonmoyet.com

Alison Moyet (born Geneviève Alison Jane Moyet 18 June 1961, Billericay) is an English singer, songwriter and performer noted for her bluesy voice.

Her UK album sales have reached a certified 2.3 million, with over a million singles sold, All seven of her studio albums and three compilation albums have charted in the Top 30 UK Album Chart, with two of the albums reaching number one. She has also achieved nine Top 30 singles and five Top 10 hits in the UK Singles Chart.^[1]

Early life[link]

This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (November 2011)

Geneviève Alison Jane Moyet was born in the small Essex town of Billericay to a French father and English mother. She grew up in the nearby town of Basildon, where she attended Markhams Chase Junior School. Upon leaving school at 16, she worked as a shop assistant and trained as a piano tuner. She was involved in a number of punk rock, pub rock and blues bands in the South East Essex area during the late 1970s and early 1980s, including the Vandals, the Screamin' Ab Dabs, the Vicars and the Little Roosters (the latter featuring Gary Lammin formerly of Cock Sparrer).

Yazoo[link]

Beginning her mainstream pop career in 1982, at the age of 21, she formed the synthpop duo Yazoo with former Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke. In the United States, the band became known as Yaz, as there was a record label in the region already operating as Yazoo Records that presented trademark issues. Yazoo had several hits, including "Only You", "Don't Go", "Situation" and "Nobody's Diary", and recorded two albums, Upstairs at Eric's and You and Me Both.

In 1983, Moyet and Clarke decided to disband Yazoo. While Clarke went on to form The Assembly (another duo, this time with Eric Radcliffe) and then Erasure (a duo again, with Andy Bell), Moyet signed to CBS (in part because it had been Janis Joplin's label), and began her solo career.

During mid-2008, Moyet reunited with Clarke as Yazoo for a series of live dates.

Solo career[link]

In 1984, Moyet released her debut solo album Alf (titled after her punk-era nickname). Alf was produced by the record producing and songwriting team of Jolley & Swain. The album was co-written by the duo and Moyet, with the exception of "Invisible", which was written specifically for her by Lamont Dozier. The record was a hit in Britain, reaching No. 1 in the album chart. Alf spawned three international hit singles, "Love Resurrection" (UK #10), "Invisible" (UK #21) and "All Cried Out" (UK #8). In the US, "Invisible" was a Top 40 hit (something Yazoo had never achieved). In some European territories, a fourth single, "For You Only", was also released.

In 1985, Moyet performed at Live Aid alongside Paul Young, and later returned unscheduled to the stage (alongside Bob Geldof, David Bowie and Pete Townshend) to provide vocals on "Let It Be" when Paul McCartney's vocal microphone at his piano failed, leaving him unable to be heard for the first stanza of the song. (Twenty years later he overdubbed his vocal for the Live Aid DVD release.) Moyet also released a single not featured on Alf, a cover of the standard "That Ole Devil Called Love", which climbed to No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart (it remains Moyet's highest-charting UK single).

Moyet had another big UK hit the following year with "Is This Love?" (co-written by the Eurythmics' David A. Stewart, under the pseudonym Jean Guiot), followed in 1987 by her second LP, Raindancing. Raindancing spawned further hit singles, including a cover of Floy Joy's "Weak in the Presence of Beauty" and "Ordinary Girl". In 1987, she scored another cover hit with "Love Letters", which peaked at UK #4. The video for the song featured comedy duo French & Saunders.

Following a period of personal and career evaluation, Hoodoo was released in 1991. The album sold respectably in the UK, and Moyet was nominated for a Grammy for the single "It Won't Be Long". However, the release of Hoodoo marked the beginning of what was to become a long fight for Moyet to secure complete control of her artistic direction. Like many similar artists (including Aimee Mann and the late Kirsty MacColl), Moyet was reluctant to record a radio-friendly "pop" album simply for the sake of creating chart hits.^{[citation needed]}

Moyet's next album, Essex (1994), was also a source of controversy for her; in order for the album to be released, her label (now Sony) insisted that certain Essex tracks be re-recorded and re-produced, and that there be additional material remixed to create a more 'commercial' package. The video for the single "Whispering Your Name" again featured Dawn French.

Following the release of Essex, Sony released a greatest hits compilation of Moyet's work. Singles entered the UK charts at No. 1 and, following a UK tour, was re-issued as a double CD set which included "Live (No Overdubs)", a bonus live CD. Upon re-issue, Singles charted again, this time in the Top 20.

Due to prolonged litigation with Sony, Moyet did not record or release a new studio album for over eight years after the release of Essex. During this time, however, she recorded vocals for Tricky, Sylk-130, Ocean Colour Scene, The Lightning Seeds, and King Britt, and was featured on the British leg of the Lilith Fair tour. 2001 saw the release of The Essential Alison Moyet CD, and in 2002 The Essential Alison Moyet DVD.

In 1995, she sang back-up vocals with Sinéad O'Connor for one of Dusty Springfield's last television appearances, singing "Where Is a Woman to Go?" on the music show Later With Jools Holland.

In August 2002, Moyet was released from her Sony contract. Moyet signed to Sanctuary Records and released her first studio album in eight years. Hometime was produced by The Insects, who had also produced works by Massive Attack and Madonna. The release of the CD launched Moyet into the top five best-selling female UK artists of 2002,^[2] and resulted in a BRIT Awards nomination for Best Female Vocalist,^[3] as well as a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize.^[4] Hometime was certified Gold in the UK for sales in excess of 100,000 copies with little promotion.

Voice, a collection of cover versions, was released on 6 September 2004 and entered the UK charts at #7. Scored and produced by Moyet's neighbour (and Academy Award winner) Anne Dudley, the album was later re-issued with a bonus track, "Alfie". A companion DVD, One Blue Voice, was released in 2006. Voice was certified Gold in the UK within four weeks of its release.

In December 2006 Moyet signed a recording contract with W14 Music,^[5] a Universal Music Group imprint. The deal saw Moyet reunited with label head John Williams, who was her A&R man for her last two albums, Hometime and Voice.

Moyet's album, The Turn, was released on 15 October 2007, preceded by the single "One More Time" a week earlier. The album featured self-penned songs, including the three numbers she wrote for the stage play, Smaller in which she starred with Dawn French. For these songs, again Moyet worked alongside producer/songwriter and frequent Moyet collaborator Pete Glenister. The Turn debuted at No. 21 on the UK Albums Chart on 22 October 2007. Alison left W14 shortly after the release of The Turn. Promotional videos for the tracks "One More Time", "Anytime At All", "The Man in the Wings" and "A Guy Like You" are on Youtube and Moyet's Myspace site.

Alison Moyet with Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra at the Apollo Theatre, Manchester, December 2010

Sony Music released Revisited: The Very Best of Alison Moyet on 19 October 2009. The track listing was compiled by Moyet including material from her seven solo albums. The 'deluxe' version of the album contained an extra disc, with re-recorded versions of older songs. In support of the release Moyet toured the UK and Ireland during November and December 2009.^[6]

Sony Music confirmed that Moyet's four solo albums (Alf, Raindancing, Hoodoo and Essex) were being digitally re-mastered and will include b-sides and bonus material.

Moyet was Jools Holland's Special Guest throughout his UK Tour of the UK for 2010. She has contributed vocals on the latest Jools Holland album released 15 November 2010 on the song titled 'The Man That Got Away. The song was made famous by Judy Garland.

More recently, Moyet wrote a new album with Guy Sigsworth. She announced on BBC 6 that her new album would be released in 2012. However, in February 2012, Moyet announced on Twitter that “I appear to have forfeited my recording deal because I won’t do reality TV. No-one needs to make an album that badly. Tea anyone?”^[7]

Theatre[link]

Moyet made her stage debut in the London West End production of the musical Chicago in 2001. She played the part of Matron 'Mama' Morton, and although initially planned to be a short run, it was extended to six months. In 2006, she appeared in the play Smaller, which undertook a regional tour before a stint at London's Lyric Theatre.

Personal life[link]

Moyet's first marriage to hairdresser Malcolm Lee, with whom she has a son, Joe, ended in divorce. A short-lived relationship with tour manager Kim McCarthy produced a daughter, Alex, and her present marriage to teaching assistant David Ballard resulted in a daughter, Caitlin.^[8]

Discography[link]

• 1984: Alf
• 1987: Raindancing
• 1991: Hoodoo
• 1994: Essex
• 2002: Hometime
• 2004: Voice
• 2007: The Turn

References[link]

External links[link]

• Alison Moyet's official website
• Biography on Allmusic
• Alison Moyet at the Internet Movie Database

Lloyd Doyley

Doyley (right) opposite Liam Lawrence
Personal information
Full name	Lloyd Colin Doyley
Date of birth	(1982-12-01) 1 December 1982 (age 29)
Place of birth	Whitechapel, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Watford
Number	12
Youth career
1999–2001	Watford
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2001–	Watford	330	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11:20, 8th April 2012 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals).

Lloyd Colin Doyley (born 1 December 1982) is an English footballer of Jamaican descent who plays for Watford as a defender. He is primarily a right-back, but can also play as a centre-back and left-back. He is the longest-serving current player for the Hornets, and is contracted until 2013. In 2012, the Jamaican Football Federation were tracking Doyley's progress.^[1]

Career[link]

Watford[link]

Doyley's Shirt

Doyley was born in Whitechapel, London. He is a graduate of the Watford Academy, making his first team debut at home to Birmingham City in a 3–3 draw on 26 September 2001. In total he made 22 appearances during 2001–02 as manager Gianluca Vialli allowed several younger players to gain experience. He sporadically appeared for the first team in the following seasons.

Doyley became a first-team regular in the 2004–05, playing in the League Cup run that took Watford to the semi-finals and Anfield, where they lost to Liverpool 1–0 in each leg. But however, During the 2005–06 campaign, under new manager Adrian Boothroyd, Doyley made the most appearances of any outfield player, playing a crucial part in Watford finishing third in the league and qualifying for the play-offs. He played in both legs of the play-off semi-final and the final, where Watford beat Leeds United to reach the Premier League. During Watford's season in the top flight, he scored an own-goal for Manchester United in a 4–0 defeat.^[2] Doyley captained Watford in the League Cup wins over Bristol Rovers and Darlington in the 2008–09 season.

Former manager Aidy Boothroyd referred to Doyley as 'The Black Zidane'.^[3] Fans regularly refer to Doyley as 'Lloydinho'.^[4] Both nicknames are plays on players Ronaldinho & Zinedine Zidane, both famed for being greats of the sport.

Doyley's first goal was scored on his 269th appearance for the club, on 7 December 2009 at Vicarage Road, against QPR, over eight years after his first team début.^[5] It had become a long-running joke with Watford fans as to whether Doyley would ever score for Watford,^[6][7] afterwards Doyley said: "I always knew it was going to happen but it took a bit longer than I thought".

The goal was from 10 yards and was a diving header set up by a 1:2 pass and from the end of Don Cowie's pinpoint volleyed cross from the right. Doyley was initially confused after scoring and needed his team mates to point out the section of the Watford supports to go and celebrate with them. This marked a fantastic moment in his long history with Watford FC who created a run of "I was there when Doyley scored" T-shirts.

Career statistics[link]

Statistics correct as of 23 October 2011 (2011 -10-23)^[update].

Honours[link]

Club[link]

Watford

• Football League Championship play-offs (1) : 2005–06

Footnotes[link]

References[link]