ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 20 MAY 1892

COUNTY BENCH

Before A.B.Heath, C.F.Randolph, and J.C.Forster, Esqs., and Col.Harmar.

AN INCORRIGIBLE.—Mary Ann T——, an old women who has been several times before the Bench, was brought up in custody charged with sleeping in the open air without visible means of subsistence on Thursday, the 12th inst.—P.C.Roote said that at 10 o’clock he was on duty at Landown Hill, Fyfield, where he found prisoner asleep under a holly tree with a fire beside her. He woke her up, when she charged him with having stolen her stockings and sold them for guzzle. He charged her, and got her on to the lane leading from Biddesden to Redenham, when she threw herself to the ground and tried to bite his thumb; while she threw an old canteen containing water in his face. He had to get a conveyance to bring her to Andover. Witness had received several complaints about prisoner lying about and making fires.—She was sent to gaol for three months.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 18 MAY 1917

KING’S SOMBORNE — BOY SCOUTS INSPECTED

On Thursday evening in last week the local patrols of Boy Scouts were inspected by Capt.Sloane-Stanley on the Cricket Ground. There was a good parade of the boys and a number of interested spectators watched the proceedings under ideal weather conditions. Scoutmaster L.Haigh led the patrols to the ground, where they formed up on three sides of a square and received Capt.Sloane-Stanley with the general salute. Among those present were Mr.L.Jorgensen, Rev.G.E.H.Theophilus, Mr.H.C.Cooper, Mr.E.J.H.Livett, Mr.C.E.Morgan, Mr.C.Leggatt, Mr.F.Gordon, and Mr.Clitheroe. Capt.Sloane-Stanley inspected the lines and distributed recognition badges; Patrol Leaders J.and W.Daltonwere put through semaphore signalling, and the second class lads were tested in ambulance work. After the inspection Capt.Sloane-Stanley said it had given him great pleasure to come there and see such a smart turnout of scouts, and he could congratulate them upon what they had done that evening. He was pleased with the discipline and would impress upon them the desirability of knowing how to behave themselves both on and off parade. Always try their best to help their scoutmaster, whoever he might be, was his parting advice; he hoped to pay them another visit shortly, though the war made busy times for all. Capt.Sloane-Stanley then took the salute, and the Scouts marched off the ground and back to their headquarters through the village. The scouts her have now every appliance for rendering first aid to any person unfortunate enough to meet with an accident.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 22 MAY 1942

DANCE CABARET — STARS BROACAST FROM ANDOVER

Great news! Andover has been brought to the notice of the listening masses of the nation as “a fashionable inland watering place.” And the local members of the Home Guard will be pleased to hear that their Drill Hall has been transformed into “a gilded palatial hall.” At least that is how that grand comedian, Gillie Potter, described them in his broadcast on Tuesday evening. Readers will also be interested to know that the Andover District figured largely in the life of one of the distinguished members of the, shall I say notorious, Marshmallow family. According to the straw-hatted Gillie Potter, this particular Marshmallow, received part of his somewhat hectic and doubtful education at the famous “Stockbridge Technical School,” which I defy anyone to find. Apparently this chip off the old Marshmallow block also received a decoration during his mythical mighty military career, for an incident reputed to have taken place at Danebury Hill, and his “pedigree” shows that subsequently he occupied posts as organist at Tidworth Odeon and Inspector of Nuisances at Middle Wallop. Many of these references were probably meaningless, though none the less entertaining to the majority of the listeners, who, I daresay, imagine for instance that Middle Wallop with all due respect for that spot, is a fictitious name. But for local people there is a wealth of meaning to be derived from them.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 19 MAY 1967

CALLING ALL CHILDEN

Hello, Cornerites,

Now that summer’s coming, if you have a whole day to spare and the weather is fine you might like to go for a hike.

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes – and it is best if your clothing is fairly old as you might rip or tear it.

You are lucky to live in this area as there are many very pretty parts of the countryside you could walk to.

Take some food with you to eat midday and teatime. It is best if you could keep this in a tightly closed tin or wrapped in tinfoil. Make sure that you know where you are going and roughly how long it takes to get there because it is very easy to get caught by nightfall and then get lost.

Enjoy yourselves if you go hiking but remember to be careful of farmer’s property.

That’s all for this week, Cornerites. More suggestions for your holidays next week.

Cheerio,

UNCLE TED.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 22 MAY 1992

TRUCKERS’ BANG-UP MEALS SET FOR CHOP

Truckers from across the country were outraged to learn that they may lose one of their favourite havens in the South of England.

Shell’s redevelopment plans for its Weyhill Road service station involve closing down Andover’s only overnight lorry-park and demolishing its famous truckers’ cafe, recommended in the ‘70s by Egon Ronay for serving the best bacon butties in the land.

“I think it’s disgusting. There’s nowhere else on the A303 for truckers to stop. A lot of people will be very upset to see it go,” said Ken Hale, a Pickford’s driver who often drops in at Andover Services for a cup of tea and a bite to eat.

Brian Webber, who works for an Amesbury haulage firm, agreed: “I can’t think of anywhere like this between London and Exeter. Truckers’ cafes are closing down all over the place.”

The service station, better known as Gills, has been providing a meal and a bed for the night to long-distance lorry-drivers since 1947, and its renowned English breakfasts have attracted many hungry Andover people in for an early-morning slap-up meal.