COUNTY BENCHBefore C.F.Randolf, Esq., Col.Harmar, and J.C.Forster, Esq.A REFRACTORY PAUPER.-Charles S——, a t

COUNTY BENCH

Before C.F.Randolf, Esq., Col.Harmar, and J.C.Forster, Esq.

A REFRACTORY PAUPER.-Charles S——, a tramp, was in custody charged with refusing to perform his task while an inmate of the casual ward of the Andover Union Workhouse on the 4th inst.—N.Rumboll said prisoner was admitted on the 3rd inst., and on the 4th was set to break 5 cwt.of flint. About 8.30 the porter came to him and said the prisoner was not breaking the stones. Prisoner said he was not supplied with a hammer, when witness pointed to the pounder, and that if he did not use that he would have to go to Winchester.—Prisoner said the things supplied were not the same as in other Unions, and the task was not done.—Prisoner said it was impossible to do the work, as he was too weak after 3 or 4 o’clock, he having been without food for some days before.—Prisoner was sent to gaol for 14 days’ with hard labour.—He said it would not trouble him, as he should see the doctor as soon as he got there.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 4 MAY 1917

ROYAL ACADEMY, 1917

If the saying that “In war the poet is the chief force of the war” is true, then surely painting is a factor, and we must remind our readers that the 149th exhibition of the Royal Academy opens on Monday next. Among local names as exhibitors will be found Mrs. Anna Lea-Merritt, Mrs.H.Fidler, and Mr.Harry Fidler, the last being represented with a vigorous canvas, entitled “The plough is our hope.”

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 8 MAY 1942

FILM COMPETITION — PRIZE WINNERS AT THE SAVOY CINEMA

Mr.G.P.Stewart, manager of the Savoy Cinema, on Wednesday evening, presented the prizes to the winners for the best criticism of the film “Citizen Kane,” shown at the Savoy recently.

In the absence of the judge, the Editor of the Andover Advertiser, Mr.Stewart read his criticism concerning the entries, which ran as follows:

Unfortunately the majority of them were not criticism of the film, and they failed because they only told the story. Assuming that most of the entrants are fairly regular fans, it is rather strange that only one or two should have made reference to the fact that the actors were appearing in movies for the first time, and that so few noticed, or if they did, they did not think it worth mentioning, the new lighting technique where shadow alternated with brightness, giving enhanced emotional interest to the dialogue. Little mention was made of the shock sounds , such as the sudden blaring of a band and the tropical bird breaking a quiet scene with hair-raising effect, both of which violate Hollywood’s conception of production. One or two good papers were disqualified because they did not confine their remarks to 200 words as requested. It was interesting to note that half the entrants were Service men. Taking the competition as a whole, it showed how diverse are people’s views concerning a particular film. About 50 per cent liked the picture, the others were not much interested, and did not hesitate to say so. “Citizen Kane” certainly set many patrons thinking, and to use the words of one successful entrant, it was a film to make one concentrate and use his powers of imagination.

After thanking the Editor of the Andover Advertiser very sincerely for judging the competition, Mr.Stewart presented the prizes to the winners: £1-1-0 each to Mrs.Alison Crofton, “Owl’s Roost,” Andover Down and Mr.Roy Bishop, St.Mary’s Cottage, Broughton; 10/6 to Cpl.G.R.Snelling, R.A.F.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 5 MAY 1967

SGT.CARR MOVES INTO ARMY’S FIRST “PRIVATE” HOUSE

Under the Army’s “Emergency Housing Purchase Scheme,” houses on private estates throughout the country are being purchased for use a s Army quarters and on Wednesday morning, the key to the very first house in the country to be occupied by a soldier and his family were handed over. It fits the door of No.69 Gallaghers Mead, Andover, and the soldier to whom it was handed was Sgt.John Carr, of 16th Light Air Defence Regt., R.A., Barton Stacey.

Sgt.Carr is married and has five children: two boys and three girls, whose ages range from three years to 17½ years. His wife, Phyllis, and family at present living in Army quarters in Glasgow but are moving to Andover at the week-end.

Their new home is one of the 14 purchased by the Army at Gallaghers Mead, but 116 others in Andover-on The Drove estate and Cedar Park estate-have been purchased under the scheme.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 8 MAY 1992

LAKES EYESORE MAY BECOME A NATURE RESERVE

Andoverians may soon be able to enjoy the district’s first local nature reserve if borough council plans for the Anton Lakes meet with approval.

The lakes area, bordered to the south by Artists Way, to the north by Enham Lane and to the east by the King Arthurs Way estate, is currently a litter blackspot.

And now Test Valley Borough Council is to apply to English Nature to declare the area a nature reserve and clean it up.

“We are about to carry out a survey of the people who live near the lakes to canvass their opinions as to the future of the area,” explained council leisure chief, Richard McIntosh.

“Depending on the response we could carry out a programme of general improvement which would leave the area semi-wild to encourage the rare plant and bird life of the area.”

Marsh orchids and other rare flowers can be found around the lakes, which are visited by kingfishers, grebes and other aquatic birds.

Mr.McIntosh says the leisure and planning department, together with the Hampshire Wildlife Trust, is drawing up a blueprint for the area which will allow nature to thrive in harmony with human enjoyment of the lakes.

“We hope to get some sort of local group up and running which could help care for the lakes – it would be great to get school children involved in the project,” he added.

The sum of £10,000 has been set aside from this year’s budget to get the scheme off the ground.