ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 30 JUNE 1893

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12/6 per Month will Purchase a Spencer Gold Medal Piano, Tuned free for the first year. Warranted for Ten years.

Carriage paid. Catalogues sent free on application.

E.PHILLIPS &CO., ANDOVER.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 28 JUNE 1918

GOODWORTH CLATFORD – A DISTINCTION

Information has been received that Major Harold Iremonger, Royal Marine Artillery, the son of the Vicar, has been awarded the Legion of Honour by the French Army authorities. Major Iremonger was present at the Jutland Battle in H.M.S.Valiant, and was at sea from the beginning of the war until last December, since when he has been with the Naval Siege Guns in Flanders.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 2 JULY 1943

LUDGERSHALL CHURCH FETE

Long before the tea hour drew near it was certain that the garden fete on the Rectory lawn, which took place on Wednesday afternoon, would be as big a success socially as any event of its kind held in the village since the century began. It seemed that all the womenfolk, as well as a large number of men of the parish, were present. Ludgershall certainly rose to the occasion, and it served a double purpose, for the event will not only swell the Church funds when they are most needed, and provide a substantial donation for the Red Cross Prisoners of War Fund, it will also prove to the new Rector (the Rev.

Sidney R.Miller) and Mrs.Miller that local folk are ready to support any worthy effort in aid of a good cause.

The organisation carried through by the Church Council, with the Rector as chairman, was no easy task, but with the two churchwardens (Messrs.F.Rawcliffe and H.E.Reeves) carrying out the onerous duties of hon.secretary and treasurer respectively, members of the council and other church workers rallying around, they transformed the picturesque garden and the spacious lawns into a novel amusement park, with shows that extended from a fortune teller’s tent to a humble darts board. The most popular spot of all was the pig bowling board and there was a continuous stream of prospective owners of the lovely little pig presented by the Hon.Mrs.Bryan Guinness.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 28 JUNE 1968

DIANA DORS TO CROWN “MISS ANDOVER”

Miss Andover 1968 – 18-year-old Linda Law – is to be crowned by glamorous actress and film star Miss Diana Dors. The ceremony will take place at 3pm on Saturday, 6 July. For Miss Dors it will be her second official visit to Andover. Some years ago she came to the old Odeon Cinema to promote a films.

Highlight of the programme to be run in conjunction with the crowning ceremony will be a piano smashing contest. No less than 18 old pianos have been donated for this event!

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – 2 JULY 1993

HSA’S ROYAL APPOINTMENT

Andover’s long wait finally came to an end on Friday, when Queen Elizabeth II became the first reigning British monarch to visit the town in its history.

Her Majesty arrived at Alan Child House, the HSA’s new building at Borden gGtes shortly after 4 pm, to be greeted with a huge cheer by the 3,000 strong crowd as she stepped out of her official car.

She was welcomed by the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Lieutenant Colonel Sir James Scott, who introduced her to local dignitaries, including the Mayor of Test Valley, Cllr George King, and Cllr Jack Maynard, the chairman of Hampshire County Council.

Mr Ian Adam, chairman of the HSA, was then presented to the Queen along with Mrs Christopher Fagan, the association’s vicepresident, and Mr James Young, the HSA chief executive.

Before unveiling a plaque to mark the official opening of the new building, she was introduced to its namesake, Mr Alan Child, deputy president of the HSA.

TEN YEARS AGO — 27 JUNE 2008 ‘ANNE WOULD DIE WITHOUT CIRCUS’ Circus owners have defended keeping an elderly elephant after an animal rights group called on Andover to boycott the show next week. The Captive Animals’ Protection Society (CAPS) said it was concerned about the health of Anne, a 55-year-old elephant transported with the Bobby Roberts Circus and thought to be the last circus elephant in Britain.

She no longer performs in the circus but Craig Redmond, CAPS campaigns manager, maintains: “Anne is not a family pet as the circus claims. She is an elderly arthritic animal whose health can surely not benefit by being carted around the country.”

But Moira Roberts, wife of circus owner Bobby, said: “This is very, very upsetting. We run a professional and legal business but it’s always this that makes the news.

“Anne is 55 and she’s been part of the family for 51 of those 55 years. There’s no doubt in my mind that if she was anywhere other than the circus, she would pine, be distressed and die.”

Mr Redmond however claimed Anne was not retired. “She is transported with the circus and people can pay to have their photo taken alongside her.”

Mr Roberts agreed Anne did have her photograph taken with people and was involved in the occasional advert, but it wasn’t taxing and went towards her upkeep.