ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 18 JULY 1890

ON THE MARCH

On Tuesday a battery of artillery arrived in Andover on their way to Aldershot aster gun practice at Okehampton, when by invitation a number of men visited the vicarage, where the parish room and lawn were thrown open to them. As the evening was gloriously fine the lawn was the favourite resort, and here they indulged in their pipes, sang songs, &c., assistance being rendered in this direction by several gentlemen who had gone to assist the Vicar and Mrs.Braithwaite. In the course of the evening refreshments were served, and the men appeared to pass a thoroughly pleasant evening.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 16 JULY 1915

DANGEROUS CROSS ROADS

On Saturday a serious accident befell Lieut.Lockyer, of the Army Service Corps. The officer was riding his motor cycle from Salisbury Plain to Andover, and when at the crossing at the Tavern there was a collision between the cyclist and a motor car. The officer was thrown from the cycle with great force, was rendered insensible, and was badly cut about the face and head, besides being bruised on other parts of the body. He was promptly conveyed in the car to the Andover Cottage Hospital, where he was surgically treated by Dr.E.A.Farr. Although the unfortunate officer remained insensible for some time, the latest report is that he is making satisfactory progress towards recovery.—There were three other accidents near this spot the same day. A constable has now been placed there on point duty, and speed excessers will be proceeded against.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 19 JULY 1940

CORRESPONDENCE — FIGHTING INCENDIARY BOMBS

Sir,—May I appeal to all householders in the Borough to consider carefully the following information concerning the safeguarding of their homes against the danger of fires caused by incendiary bombs. I these bombs are dropped on Andover it is quite possible that a very great number of fires in different houses and buildings may be started.

You have a very efficient Fire Brigade and Auxiliary Fire Service, but the members of these services can only be in one place at a time, and if several fires are started many of them would have to be dealt with by the householders themselves.

The Government have urged local authorities to take steps to form supplementary fire parties. Such a party normally comprises three people, whose equipment consists of a stirrup pump and an adequate supply of buckets. The stirrup pump which has proved most effective in controlling fires caused by incendiary bombs, can be worked by this party of three, one controlling the jet, one working the pump, and one fetching buckets of water. I therefore make an urgent appeal to householders to form stirrup pump parties amongst their neighbours.

I ask any person who is willing to organise a stirrup pump part to forward his name and address at once to the Fire Station (an officer is continuously on duty); the Town Clerk’s Office, Municipal Buildings, Bridge Street; or to Clare House, East Street.

Women are, of course, eligible, as with the exception of controlling the pump jet, the duties can be carried out by either man or woman.—Yours faithfully, M.N.McLOUGHLIN, Chairman Fire Brigade Committee, Andover.

FIFTY YEARS AGO —16 JULY 1965

“IRRESPONSIBLE,” SAY CHAMBER OF “DICTATOR” REMARK BY COUNCILLOR

Cllr.E.Parsloe’s remark “I want to see the rapid end of the High Street dictators” at the last Andover Borough Council meeting came under fire at Tuesday night’s meeting of the executive council of the Andover and District Chamber of Trade.

Mr.L.Major, of Messrs.Willis & Sons, High Street, said he was “alarmed” at the remark which he described as “in rather bad taste.”

Mr.F.Gratton (president) of Messrs.Ponds, said his first reaction was “to get a bit hot under the collar,” but it was obviously an “irresponsible remark by someone with no knowledge of business whatsoever.”

He advised members to treat it “with ridicule. It was one of the best jokes for a long time.”

The meeting agreed to take no action in the matter.

Cllr.Parsloe yesterday sent this statement to the “Advertiser,” in reply to the Chamber’s criticisms: “Squeals of protest from the Chamber of Trade leave me unmoved.”

“I was expressing a widely held view. The facts are that the present shopping facilities are simply inadequate, the service poor, range of goods and freedom of choice strictly limited, and prices far too high. The proof of this is to ask any housewife, particularly newcomers to the town. Many of them to my certain knowledge prefer to travel as far as Winchester to shop. The reason is that for far too long the High Street traders have had things all their own way and been able to adopt a take-it-or-leave-it attitude and still make a fat profit.”

“This cosy dictatorship will, I hope, be broken by the competition in the new town centre and the public will benefit. Hence the squeals from some members of the Chamber of Trade.”

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 20 JULY 1990

ANDOVER’S MP ASKED TO HELP WIT MYSTERY OF CORN CIRCLES

The secret of the corn circles could be revealed by Government-funded research into the phenomenon after Andover MP, Sir David Mitchell, was given a guided tour of circles by local expert, Colin Andrews.

Mr Andrews had asked the MP to attempt to persuade the Government to take an interest and after the visit David Mitchell met environment minister David Trippier, his chief scientific advisor and agriculture ministry experts to discuss the mystery.

That has led to the Government-funded Natural Environmental Research Council being asked to start investigations.

Colin Andrews commented: “The mystery is nowhere near being cracked but I feel optimistic for the first time. David Mitchell was quite bowled over and could not quite believe what he was looking at. He took copious notes and photographs.”

Whatever is found Andrew is sure of one thing — freakish weather is not responsible.