Each week, the Advertiser's history writer, David Borrett, brings readers interesting news stories and letters from editions of the paper from years gone by.
ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 23 MAY 1862
ANNUAL ROOK SHOOTING AT HURSTBOURNE PARK
On Monday last, the Earl of Portsmouth invited a large number of tradesmen and others to partake of his hospitality and to enjoy the sport of rook shooting.
Fortunately, the day turned out to be beautifully fine, a great contrast to the weather we had experienced for some weeks, and a large number gladly availed themselves of the noble earl's kind invitation.
Luncheon was announced to be on the table at 1 o'clock, and before that time, a large company was assembled.
After having done ample justice to the fine fare, the main body of sportsmen turned out.
The 'army' soon had orders to charge, and a large number of birds fell to the guns of the party, a number computed at 25 dozen at least.
After spending a delightful day, the party returned home early in the evening, much pleased with the noble earl's hospitality.
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 24 MAY 1901
CORRESPONDENCE: A DANGEROUS PRINCIPLE
Sir: Is it not a rather dangerous principle which Mr Turner tried to set up at the last meeting of the Andover Board of Guardians – that an employer should not make a profit out of the men he employs when he charges for his own attendance to superintend the work.
Does not Mr Turner make a profit out of the men he employs; and does not every other tradesman do the same?
If the contractor for the coffins simply charged the sum he spent in bearers, who is to recoup him for the time spent in looking them up and inducing them to undertake so unpleasant a job?
I think that if he had charged as many pounds as he did shillings for doing his part of the work, the Guardians would still have done well out of it.
Yours: Tradesman.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 21 MAY 1926
NETHER WALLOP – SERIOUS ACCIDENT
A very serious accident occurred in the village on Monday afternoon to Mr Jenkins, grocer of Castle Street, Salisbury.
He had been during the day on one of his periodic visits taking orders from his customers in the neighbourhood, and was about to return home on a motor-bicycle, which he is accustomed to ride.
Upon nearing Gerrard's Farm, however, Mr Pond, the occupier of the farm - who had just returned from a journey in his car and was immediately in front of Mr Jenkins - had to take a sharp turn to the right to enter the farm ground.
Although he made the usual signal with his hand, the rider of the cycle was apparently too close to come to a quick standstill, and in endeavouring to pass the car was thrown by it against a stone wall bordering the lawn, with the result that he was rendered unconscious, and very severely cut about the head and neck.
In this condition, he was picked up and taken indoors, and Dr Hobbs, of Broughton, who was telephoned for, and was quickly in attendance, rendering the necessary surgical attention.
The unfortunate victim of the accident was subsequently removed home on a motor ambulance from Salisbury, which had in the meantime been sent for.
SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 25 MAY 1951
THE FIRST AEROPLANE OVER HAMPSHIRE
In response to the letter from Mr Thomas Bertie Guyatt, of East Grimstead, near Salisbury, who asked if anyone knew the date on which the first aeroplane flew over Hampshire, on which he was a passenger from Monxton to Cholderton, we find that the Advertiser of 7 April 1911 carried the answer under the Sutton Scotney heading:
'Between 1 and 2 o'clock on Sunday, aeroplane No 17, manufactured by the Bristol and Colonial Aeroplane Company, descended on a field near Major Courage's residence at Sutton Scotney.
'As the aeroplane had the eyes of many of the villagers fixed upon it, a great excitement ensued when it was seen to descend, and there was a crowd around it at once.
'The aviator, being a Frenchman, could not make himself understood to the onlookers, but with Major Courage's arrival on the scene, the gulf separating the two languages was spanned, and the Frenchman imparted that he had passed Southampton, Eastleigh and Winchester, and wished to go by Andover to Salisbury, but he did not know which direction to take.
'He asked if anyone would like to be a passenger with him and show him the way to Andover, and the chauffeur employed by Mr Taylor, Sutton Scotney, at once volunteered, took his seat behind the aviator, and after the crowd gave the machine a shove, it rose beautifully in the air and darted away in the direction of the town.'
This however, was not the landing which Mr Guyatt remembers, and which probably took place just afterwards at Monxton, since it is obviously the same aircraft and pilot.
Mr Guyatt mentioned in his letter that the pilot was using a map purchased at Holmes & Sons of Andover, and it is reasonably safe to assume that it was while the pilot of the aircraft was visiting Andover on this trip from Southampton that he bought, or was given, the map.
He then must have flown to Monxton, landed there and picked up Mr Guyatt, who guided him to Cholderton.
Mr John King, of Abbotts Ann rang the Advertiser office this week to say that as a child in 1934, he had seen a message written on an outbuilding belonging to the old Monxton rectory which read: 'An aeroplane landed here…1911.'
Unfortunately, an extensive search by a reporter failed to locate the old message which is probably now covered in layers of whitewash.
Mrs L Ambrosen, sister of Mr Guyatt, who still lives in Monxton said: 'I was away when the plane landed here but my brother told me about it.'
Mrs Norah Childs remembered the plane landing just behind her home.
'I was a small girl of six at the time, and we all went up to see it.'
'It landed in Mr Sandell's field, now owned by Mr Harris at the back of St Mary's church.'
Further enquiries at Cholderton showed that the aeroplane bearing Mr Guyatt must have landed near the farmhouse of the Cholderton Estate, then owned by Mr H C Stephens, for it was the only place in the area at that time where petrol could be obtained.
FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 25 MAY 1979
COUNTRY'S OLDEST EVER BRIDE?
Mrs Hilda Mitchell, a 91-year-old great-grandmother, is getting married in the morning at St Mary's church in Andover.
Her bridegroom is 73-year-old bachelor, Mr Arthur Pucknell and the couple are both residents of Eastfield House blind home in Andover.
Mrs Mitchell, a widow, is believed to be one of the oldest brides in this country.
She has a son in Australia and a daughter who lives in Amersham, Bucks.
After the service, a reception is being held at Eastfield House that will include all the staff and residents, the cook having made a tree-tier cake for the occasion.
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