Each week the Advertiser's heritage writer David Borrett brings readers interesting news stories and letters from editions of the paper from years gone by. 

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 21 OCTOBER 1859

ACCIDENT ON THE ANDOVER AND SALISBURY RAILWAY

An inquest was held at the Infirmary on Thursday last, before R M Wilson Esq., on the body of George Munday, a labourer employed on the railway between Salisbury and Andover, who was killed near Grateley Station on the previous Tuesday. George Fairclough, the engine driver in charge of the luggage train which left Andover for Salisbury about four o’clock on Tuesday afternoon, deposed that about a mile from Grateley Station, he saw a man sitting on the rail about 300 yards in advance of the train. He immediately sounded the whistle but finding the man did not move he reversed the engine, put on the brake, and did everything in his power to prevent an accident, but without success. Immediately the train stopped he ran back and assisted in getting the man into the break van, in which he was brought to Salisbury and taken to the Infirmary, where he expired the same night. A verdict of accidental death was returned.  

 

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 21 OCTOBER 1898

ANDOVER WEDNESDAY V. ANDOVER GRAMMAR SCHOOL

The match was played in Mr Miles’ meadow during the rather dirty weather of Wednesday afternoon. As some players could not get to the field until about 3.30 it was impossible for the teams to play full time, so after a short discussion the respective captains decided to play half-an-hour each way. In the first half, a goal was scored against the school by Stockley, and in the second half two more points were notched against the ‘boys’, so the Wednesday retired from the field victorious after a well-played game. Among the winners one can make no choice as to the best player, for all played well, though their movements were somewhat hampered by the slippery ground. For the losers, H Lynn played an excellent game; while one may say that the playing of Carter and Bienvenu was very good, and that Grist in goal saved splendidly. The losers cannot say they had no encouragement form the spectators, for the cries of ‘Buck up the School’ etc., were sometimes deafening.

 

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 19 0CTOBER 1923

SIGN POST ERECTED AT LUDGERSHALL

At last the sign-post has been erected in the garden of the Prince of Wales Hotel, and thus has a controversy disappeared. The new post, with its direction fingers, is certainly an improvement of the corner near the Square, even though the position of its erection makes it impossible for the Marlborough and Savernake finger to point directly along the Marlborough Road, for the point of erection is several feet from the turning into this road. Whether the parish council, when their members meet again, will further pursue their discussion on who had the post that was taken down from the Triangle, remains to be seen. Possibly now that everything has been satisfactorily settled in regard to the provision of a post, the members will let the matter rest, though the fact that rumours are still flying about regarding the original removal indicate that the villagers are still sore about the mystery concerning it.

 

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 22 OCTOBER 1948

THE EDITOR’S POST BAG – HORRORS OF THE GIN TRAP

Sir: May I appeal to every reader of your paper to do his or her share in removing the disgrace of that devilish device – the gin trap? Many town dwellers do not even know of its existence, and perhaps for that very reason gin-trapping is still rampant in rural districts. Dogs, cats, birds and rabbits go through (to quote Galsworthy) ‘the tortures of the damned’, lying with legs gripped tight in the steel-toothed jaws of these traps all through the long hours of the night – and often far into the day as well. There are several much better methods of dealing with the rabbit problem. Public opinion can insist that the gin trap – as was the man trap – is outlawed. Yours faithfully G Bibby.

 

FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 22 OCTOBER 1976

INCREASE IN LOANS TO COUNCIL OFFICERS

Test Valley officers are to be allowed to borrow up to £2,000 for the purchase of cars. At present the maximum loan – set in April 1974 – is £1,250 or half the officer’s gross salary, whichever is the less – at 9% interest. The management team is to submit a detailed report on the assisted car purchase scheme within three months. The committee agreed that as an interim measure, the maximum loan be set at £2,000or half the officer’s gross salary, whichever is the lower. Loans will be made at intervals of not less than two years, unless there are exceptional circumstances, and they must be secured by insurance cover – at the cost of officers. The council’s Policy and Resources Committee was told by the management team that increases in car prices since April 1974 ‘had rendered the limit unrealistic. If an increase in the upper limit was agreed, it would seem reasonable to balance it by introducing a restriction on the frequency with which loans might be taken on.’ But Mr John Taylor, Test Valley Council’s Chief Administration Officer, pointed out that no figure was mentioned when the joint committee originally agreed to go ahead with the scheme.