Back Through the Pages: St Mary Bourne looks to buy pub

CORRESPONDENCE

Sir: Like many other good churchmen, I have sat in Andover church for a long time, and listened (much against my will) to what are called the musical services, until I can endure it no longer.

Ordinary sermons I can stand, for I am not compelled to listen to them; but to be tortured week after week, as we churchgoers have been, with the hideous conglomeration of discord which reached a climax on Sunday last, is a refinement of brutality.

Can you, sir, in whom the management of the singing and chanting is vested, and whether it is not possible to put a stop to the proceedings which are enough to make the firmest adherent of the church service as it now stands turn.

Yours faithfully, QUAKER.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 30 AUGUST 1901

A LIFE ON THE OCEAN WAVE

On Monday morning, about 400 bold Hampshire men and women left Southampton in the steamer Cambria to pay a visit to Cherbourg.

When the boat got out into the open channel it was found that a gale was blowing from the north-west, causing heavy rolling seas.

After steaming for about one and a half hours, the passengers were in such a pitiable condition, owing to seas making clean breaches across the vessel, that they besought the captain to make for Weymouth, which he accordingly did, arriving at the port shortly before one o’clock.

When about six miles off Portland, the captain discerned a fishing boat flying a signal of distress.

He bore down to render assistance and found the craft contained two Portland fishermen.

They had left port about ten o’clock that morning for the purpose of going fishing.

After being out for some time, the gale increased, and in attempting to battle with both wind and waves, both oars snapped, and their sail was torn to shreds, the poor fellows being thus left to the mercy of the gale.

They were with difficulty picked up by the steamer, kindly treated by both captain and crew, and landed at Weymouth, the boat having been taken in tow.

When landed at Weymouth, all the passengers presented a very woe-begone appearance.

The Balmoral, from Southampton, and the Monarch, from Bournemouth, steamed to Weymouth the same day, but owing to the heavy seas, the greater proportion of the passengers elected to return home by train.

It will be a long time before some amateur mariners forget this little trip.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 27 AUGUST 1926

HELLO! ANDOVER

Judging by the rehearsal which took place in the Drill Hall on Wednesday evening in the hearing of critics, Andover is in for a series of treats next week when, in connection with the carnival, the concert committee are presenting the show ‘Hello! Andover.’

Full of fun and frivolity, the artists are out to banish gloom and care, as evidenced by the smiles which prevailed nearly all through the programme.

It is a show of local interest with local artists, and we never imagined there was such a wealth of talent in our midst.

The exceptional chorus in song and dance, with its topical allusions is great.

In all there are about 25 performers and they are out to do their best for the cause of charity.

The performances are taking place at the New Theatre twice nightly, and there is the additional attraction, if any were needed, of lucky programme numbers.

Artists are performing their parts well and it is up to the public to support their efforts.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 31 AUGUST 1951

VILLAGE MAY BUY PUB

‘Shall we buy The Plough?’ is the heading of a circular issued by the committee of the St Mary Bourne Village Centre Fund notifying subscribers and the public that a meeting has been called for Monday night to consider and discuss the purchase of The Plough (an inn the centre of the village of which the brewers are giving up the licence, and selling).

Part of the grounds could be used as a site for a village hall.

Mr G A Innes, the hon sec of the Village Centre Fund told an Advertiser reporter that his committee was recommending the purchase of The Plough, including the inn, outbuildings, the clubroom and a large garden, for the sum of £25,000.

The land at the back adjoins the recreation ground, Mr Innes said.

But he added, ‘I understand that since the notice of the meeting was sent out, certain restrictions on the use to which the property can be put have been forwarded. These will have to be taken into account.’

Asked if the centre fund had enough money to meet the cost of the purchase, Mr Innes said that at the moment, the committee had about £3,200 available.

The idea of providing a village centre arose in the early part of the war when monies raised from events during 'Wings for Victory Week' were set aside for that purpose.

In 1943, a public meeting was called, and a committee was set up to control and increase the fund.

£2,000 was aimed at as a beginning.

Since then many villagers became regular subscribers to the scheme and various money-raising events have been held, and the goal of £2,000 was raised by the end of 1945.

The Plough is a very good site but it is up to the village residents to decide whether to buy it or not.

If the answer is yes, it will be up to the committee to decide how to proceed.

FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 31 AUGUST 1979

A MAN AND HIS GUITAR

A life-long love affair with the guitar was described this week by a 75-year-old musician.

‘Playing has been my life. I was a shy and nervous boy; as a young chap, I didn’t get on with the girls and I was no good at sport – so I fell in love with music.’

Jack Dacre summed up his musical career this week from his home in Nether Wallop.

He was the son of a hard-working dairy farmer, earning his living as a gardener.

He first learned the banjo and then progressed to the guitar in the early 1920s, when few others were interested.

But one day when he was cycling home to Nether Wallop, an accident involving telephone wire ended with a stay in Salisbury hospital, with two fingers permanently paralysed.

Despite the difficulties, he persevered with the guitar, restringing his instrument the reverse way.

He both performed and taught the guitar in a small way but during the 1950s, when rock and roll came in, hundreds of young people bought guitars and wanted to learn how to play, and his teaching skills were in huge demand.

Many were taught to play from Saturday lessons above Sainsbury Fisher’s music shop at 53 High Street and Mr Dacre has now written an excellent book, ‘Think Guitar’, which deals with every aspect of playing and maintenance of the instrument.

At £2, it is excellent value and can be purchased at Simmonds book shop in Union Street.