ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 12 MAY 1893

HANTS COUNTY COUNCIL — COUNTY LUNATIC ASYLUM

Alderman Sir A.Phillimore, as chairman of the Committee of Visitors, submitted the following report with regard to the asylum:-

The committee of the county asylum have to report that the condition of the asylum continues to be very satisfactory. The number of patients at the date of their last meeting was—468 males, 555 females; total 1023 patients, of whom 16 are idiot children. The committee has been in communication with the committees of the Wilts and Dorset asylums and the County Council of the Isle of Wight, with a view to the erection of a joint asylum for idiot children for these three counties, but in each case unfavourable replies have been received. The committee therefore recommend that steps be taken with as little delay as possible for the erection of a new block for the separate accommodation and special treatment of such cases for this county alone.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 10 MAY 1918

RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL

A letter was read from the Agricultural Committee, asking for information as to the number of farmers who were likely to need school boy labour for gathering in the 1918 harvest. Boys would be available from 14-17 years of age, and the wages were to be from 3d. to 6d. an hour according to capabilities and usefulness. Lodgings and food would have to be found by the farmers. Boy Scouts would also be available for the harvest.

The Chairman said farmers could have what boys they wanted in the villages. The difficulty would arise with boys from the towns. Accommodation was hard to get.

Mr.Lillywhite thought they should reply that in the case of the Andover district local boy labour would be sufficient.

The Council agreed to this course.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 14 MAY 1943

THE BOROUGH BENCH — WORKING CLASS DEPUTATION WAITS ON THE MAYOR

On Monday a joint deputation representing the Andover Labour Party, the Andover Co-operative Society and the Andover Trades Council, was received by the Mayor in his capacity as Chief Magistrate of the Borough.

The Deputation expressed their deep concern in the present composition of the Borough Bench and outlined the efforts which have been made, without avail, to secure co-operative and working-class nominees appointed as Justices, following the death of Mr.T.McDonald, who was the nominee of local working-class organisations, and had represented them for nearly 20 years.

The Deputation thanked the Mayor for his sympathetic attention.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 10 MAY 1968

MAYOR LOSES SEAT TO CONSERVATIVE

The Mayor of Andover (Cllr.Mrs.Cissie Clark) lost her seat in Millway Ward in yesterday’s Andover Borough Council elections by more than 400 votes.

Mr.Cyril J.J.Berry, former editor of the “Advertiser,” standing as a Conservative, defeated her in a three-cornered fight with 929 votes.

Mrs.Anna Mary Sansom (Lib.) polled 395 of the 1,840 votes, one of the heaviest polls in the ward for many years.

The Mayor, who was a Labour candidate in the previous two elections stood as an Independent.

She was first elected to the council in 1962. In the 1965 election she retained her seat with a majority of 11 in a straight fight with Mr.J.Haines (Con.)

NEW HEXAGONAL FLATS

The most unusual and interesting housing development in Andover is now nearing completion: the hexagonal-shaped blocks of flats situated near the Floral Way Estate, in Salisbury Road.

The two three-storey blocks — to be known as The Hexagons — consist of 30 single-person flats and 22 two-person flats. There is also a shop — which has been let to a Wimbledon man at a rent of £1,050 a year exclusive of rates — with a flat above to accommodate five people. And there are 52 garages.

The flats have aroused a great deal of interest, and are bound to be popular with single and young married business and professional people.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 14 MAY 1993

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS PLAN AHEAD AFTER COUNTY ELECTION TRIUMPH

Jubilant local Liberal Democrats are still celebrating their party’s stunning victories in last week’s county council elections.

The party captured four of the seven Hampshire and Wiltshire divisions in this area, decisively changing the hitherto all-blue political map in this district.

Conservative majorities were overturned in Andover North, Whitchurch and Clere, Collingbourne and Bedwyn and Pewsey.

The most stunning Liberal victory was in Whitchurch and Clere where Hampshire Education Chairman Tim Macnamara saw his 231 majority wiped out as business consultant Dr John Wall took the seat with a big swing giving him a 1,468 majority.

Lib Dem constituency party Chairman Ian Willis said the results show a lack of faith in a ‘lame-duck’ government.

Cllr Dunn, who becomes one of the country’s youngest county councillors agreed: “We’ve seen a turning point in the political make-up of Andover, which we look forward to building on.”

TEN YEARS AGO — 9 MAY 2008

‘1984’ JIBE FAILS TO HALT ONE PARTY EXECUTIVE

Liberal Democrat claims that Test Valley Borough Council leader Ian Carr was a cross between a Roman emperor and Big Brother were dismissed as rubbish by Conservatives at the last full council meeting.

The meeting was more polarised and politically charged than usual as the dominant Conservative group were determined to convert the council’s multi-party executive into a smaller cabinet made up entirely of Conservative members.

The old system, which was unique in Hampshire, enabled the opposition to sit on the important decision-making body but not take responsibility for the decisions.