ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 11 MARCH 1892

CORRESPONDENCE — LYNCH HILL, WHITCHURCH

Sir,—I should like (through the medium of your valuable paper) to draw the attention of the ratepayers of Whitchurch to the present of the best and most pleasant walk in the town since Lord Portsmouth has closed Hurstbourne Park to the public. I should also like to ask where and what have the waywardens been doing to allow this devastation and destruction of the public footpaths over Lynch Hill? What was once a nice path is now broken up and fenced with barbed wire. This barbed wire is a tremendous nuisance, and I see it is placed in close proximity to other public footpaths. Surely the ratepayers of Whitchurch are not going to allow such flagrant outrage to pass without opposition against the parties so encroaching upon their rights. The time is approaching when new waywardens will be elected, and I hope the ratepayers will speak out as one man and assert their rights. I also hope that they will make the destroyers of Lynch Hill put the path in a safe condition, as a short time since it was dangerous to walk over.

Again let me urge the ratepayers to stand up and vindicate their rights.—Thanking you, Mr.Editor, I remain, yours truly,

LYNCH HILL.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 9 MARCH 1917

CORRESPONDENCE — MR SANDERS AND HIS CRITICS

Sir,—I fail to see the reason or cause for Mr.Hammans’ uncalled for remarks made at the Town Council meeting last week, as reported in your paper, that I was trying to shelve my responsibility on the Council. I can assure Mr.Hammans that I am quite prepared to shoulder all my responsibilities. My offer of the land was made without the least desire for any profit, as I thought that potatoes and other vegetables would certainly be more wholesome grown there than on the sewage field as suggested by some of the Councillors.

It was my own eagerness to do as much as possible in food production that caused me to manure and plough the land (which has been down to grass), but finding it more than my depleted staff could properly work, I made the offer for reasons stated above, and certainly did not expect to be insulted by a member of the Council for my trouble.

Trusting, sir, that you will give this, my protest and explanation, the same publicity as you did Mr.Hammans’ remarks, I leave it to your readers to judge which of us is best doing what we can for our country.—I am, sir, yours faithfully,

W.E.SAUNDERS, Vine Cottage Nurseries, Andover.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 13 MARCH 1942

CORRESPONDENCE — SWIMMING POOL CHARGES

Sir,—The present Standing Orders of the Andover Town Council, although very effective in curbing mere verbosity, do frequently prevent a full discussion of matters that are of considerable importance to the ratepayers, and the only way to correct mis-statements made in the Council Chamber is through the Press.

May I have the use of your columns to state definitely that the Swimming Pool accounts for the year ending 31st March, 1941, show a deficit of £821, which will have to met out of the rates. This amount is made up of £426 special work paid out of revenue and £395 towards running costs. The estimated expenditure for the year ending March 31, 1942, will show a substantial increase in this latter item. No special works or improvements can now be carried out. The only way to meet the inevitable increased expenses was to increase charges all round.—Yours truly,

HUGH S.OVERMASS.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 10 MARCH 1967

YOUNG MAYORESS OPENS 18-PLUS

The newly formed Andover 18-Plus Group started its programme on Wednesday with a social — chaired by attractive 25-year-old Barbara Kirtland, of Glen Lyon, Alexandra Road, Andover.

Members and guests from other clubs in Winchester, Basingstoke and Southampton packed into a room at the Adelaide to hear the official opening by Andover’s Mayoress, 17-year-old Beverley Samuels.

“In Andover we have become aware of the need for an 18-Plus Group,” said the Mayoress. “I am pleased that one has been started now. People are looking for something worthwhile and lively to do-and this Group supplies the opportunity.”

Already the club has its full programme for March, April, May and June. During the next few weeks there will be a beer and skittles challenger match against Basingstoke, dancing, a folk evening and a fish and chip supper.

Meetings are to take place every Wednesday at the Adelaide. A spokesman explained: “It is an independent, non-party, non-sectarian organisation that exists especially to serve the needs of those who are over 18 and under 30.

“We would particularly like to encourage those who suffer from shyness. Please ‘take the plunge’ and come along to one of our meetings; you can be sure of a friendly welcome, and-who knows?-your experience in 18-plus may be of help in your job.”

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 13 MARCH 1992

DRUGS HELP-LINE SAVED BY OFFER

A local businessman has stepped in to save Andover’s drug help-line threatened with closure at a time when drug abuse in the area has been spotlighted as the worst in Winchester health district.

The Dales Trust, started through the efforts of a mother whose son died a drug related death, was turned out of temporary High Street premises by landlords, the Newbury Building Society.

At that time the organisation was struggling to find alternative accommodation. Previous counselling rooms in Bridge Street, leased from the borough council, were sold.

After the ‘Andover Advertiser’ publicised the plight of the Trust and the people it was trying to help, Lance Barrett came to the rescue with an offer of accommodation in an Upper High Street property. A lease is being drawn up.

Dale Trust chairman, Mark Thomas, says the rent will be a market one but the offer means that the Trust can apply for more grant aid and embark on a permanent programme to help Andover’s increasing addicts.