ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 16 DECEMBER 1892

ADVERTISEMENT

CHRISTMAS 1892.

F. R. NOYCE,

FAMILY BUTCHER

WINCHESTER STREET, ANDOVER,

BEGS to inform his numerous Customers and the Public generally that he has this Season

A SPLENDID SHOW OF MEAT,

Amongst which are the following:—

PRIME FAT DEVON STEER,

2nd Prize Winner at Dunster Show, bred and fed by Mr.John Sawtell, Newton Farm;

TWO FAT BULLOCKS,

Grazed in the Neighbourhood;

TWO PRIME MAIDEN HEIFERS

Bred and fed by Mr.T.Bailey, Thruxton Manor Farm; also

TEN FAT DOWN SHEEP

From Mr.King, Chilbolton; several

CHOICE DAILY FED PORKERS, &c., &c.

Nelsons Brothers’ Best Canterbury NEW ZEALAND MUTTON at extraordinary Low Prices.

A Visit solicited. Satisfaction guaranteed.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 14 DECEMBER 1917

NO CREDIT TO ANDOVER

On Monday there was a test mobilisation of the Andover Platoon of Volunteers. Thirty turned out in full marching order and 12 supernumeraries out of a total strength of 44. The small number left in the local platoon is no credit to the town and will soon be passed by some of the Hampshire villages. Perhaps the new order of things that is foreshadowed in the new year may make a difference, but there are plenty in Andover who should not want fetching before they will do anything towards training for emergency.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 18 DECEMBER 1942

“RUFFY” – THE TALE OF AN UPPER CLATFORD CAT

“Ruffy,” a 12-year-old red tabby tomcat. The most famous cat in the Upper Clatford district, is dead. But his record as a catcher pf rats, mice, moles, rabbits, weazels [sic], frogs and bats will not be easily forgotten.

Twelve years ago be was presented to Miss Bentham, daughter of the Rector and Mrs.Bentham, of Upper Clatford, by Lady Yarrow, and when he was three years old he killed 352 mice, 120 birds, 54 rats, 40 shrews, 17 moles, 15 rabbits, 7 sloworms [sic], 2 weazels [sic], one stoat, 3 frogs and a hare, which means that “Ruffy” killed 514 animals and birds in one year. What a record, and this could be multiplied by nearly a dozen for the years of his life. The figures given above are taken from a diary. “Ruffy’s” unnoticed industry would no doubt have greatly expanded these numbers.

The cat had a not unusual habit, for he brought most things to Mrs.Bentham before he ate them. This was at times rather alarming, when, for instance, he climbed up the ivy to put his first rat on her bedroom window sill on Christmas morning.

“Ruffy” was indeed more like a dog than a cat, and would wait for hours and hours until he caught what he wanted.

This summer they were troubled by rabbits in the kitchen garden until the cat caught them, and then took Mrs.Bentham to a hole in the wire netting and sat looking at a hole in a field beyond.

“Ruffy” also mothered the Rectory’s day-old chicks this year, and these perky little creatures sat on his back and round him, and ate out of the same bowl. Two of the birds he caught were kingfishers, most difficult to catch, and seeming to know that they were not his, let Mrs.Bentham have them unhurt. Once he was seen to walk right over a pheasant sitting in the garden, and neither took the slightest notice of the other.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 15 DECEMBER 1967

“SKIPPER” PARRY AND HIS SISTER RETIRE

Friday was a memorable day for Andover Scouts when Mr.G.R.”Skipper” Parry, M.B.E., and Miss R.W.Parry retired from Scouting after a combined service of 106 years.

A celebration at the new H.Q.was attended by a representative group of Scouts and Cubs and by friends of the Group.

[Mr.Parry] … had been connected with the Scout Movement since he took his promise in 1908.

He became an Assistant Scout Master in 1910 and was made Scoutmaster to the 1st Chobham Troop a year later. He then emigrated to Canada for three years where he was in charge of the 1st Windsor Troop, Nova Scotia.

When he returned he took charge of what was then the 1st Amport Troop—which in 1936 became the 2nd Andover Group.

“Skipper” Parry received his Rover Scout Badge in 1928 and in 1939 he was awarded the Medal of Merit.

Later he received the Silver Acorns Medal and in 1957 he was given the Silver Wolf Medal, the highest Scout award.

Last year he was awarded the M.B.E.by Her Majesty the Queen.

Miss Parry, his sister, also has an imposing record in Scouting. In 1920 she started a Cub Pack at Amport and later became Cubmaster and Assistant District Commissioner (Cubs). After World War II, she became Assistant County Akela Leader. She received the Silver Acorn Award in 1958.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 18 DECEMBER 1992

CAMILLA FLUFFS CATCALL

Camilla the cat fluffed her first stage appearance when she refused to play along and eat a herring.

The four-year-old chocolate Burmese was chosen for the starring feline role in ‘Spring and Port Wine’ at Cricklade Theatre.

The plot called for her to eat a herring as part of her ‘carry on’ role.

But Camilla turned up her nose at the treat and sulked at the thought of swallowing it.