The whole back end of the precinct has been demolished now – a few more shots before the start to build the new Morrison’s store there.
I was a teenager when they pulled the Maidenhead pub down and started to build the Heron Tower Precinct. Bill, who owned the Hoddesdon Bowling Alley, did his best to burn the whole lot down over 25 years ago. He went to jail for three years for Arson. He thought he could claim the insurance to maintain his mistress in Loughton! Why do I know all this? He lived just down the road from us and it was a national news story at the time.
Unbelievably, his wife had him back after his release, but they had to move away from our road and out of the district. He was receiving numerous threats from people he owed money to, plus those who had uninsured losses. There was an Italian gentleman who was said to be “connected” offering a reward for his location!
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Was 1980 I believe. I worked at Tesco, part time, a school boy. A few of my friends did too. We all lost our jobs as the store was beneath the corkwood bowl and got flooded by the fire services!
Hello Mr Hewitt. I was most interested to come across this information. My stepfather Phil Cross used to be the General Manager at the Hoddesdon Bowl. It was basically his dream job. He loved it. Then, as you say, Bill burned the place down one night and my dad was utterly devastated. It had a huge impact on our lives, and ultimately upon my dad, who never really got over that. Do you have any other information at all. Or press cuttings, etc? I have just one. I can actually imagine who the Italian chap was, as I recall the restaurant Manager was Italian, and he too lost his livelihood on that night, in… I think… 1983. Please feel free to email me privately. Thank you.