Back Through the Pages: Town gets first pelican crossing

CORRESPONDENCE
Sir: Having observed in your last number, some comments on what is called the singing in Andover church, I beg to offer some explanation respecting your assertion that a short time since the singing was worth listening to.

It is well-known that some time ago it was spoken of, far and near, but it is perhaps not well-known that then I expended a great deal of time and labour, as well as money, in finding out persons who would sing, and giving them incessant tuition, and without any remuneration except the bare stipend with which the organ is endowed.

Everyone knows that the duties of the organist are greater here than in other places and that the stipend is much less; it does therefore appear unreasonable that I should be expected to attend to the tuition of a choir in addition to my Sunday duties, and without remuneration, indeed my circumstances will not allow me to do so.

That the teaching is considered an important part of the duties, I leave your readers to infer from the fact that there is at present a vacancy in Winchester Cathedral for a tenor, to assist in teaching the chorister boys; the salary of the lay vicar is £80, and of the teacher £50 or thereabouts.

In conclusion, I beg to say that, under any reasonable arrangement, no effort shall be wanting on my part to render the musical services of Andover church what they ought to be, and were a short time since, - a model to the churches around us.

Yours faithfully, William Bennett, organist.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 1901

SCHOOL OF ART
A meeting of the School of Art Committee was held on Tuesday afternoon at the Institute, when there was present Mr H Dowling, Mr W Bracher, Mr H Sherwood, Mr G A Bell, Mr Constable, Rev P Braithwaite and Mr Logan.

At the conclusion of the business Mr Dowling alluded to the departure of their president, Rev Canon Braithwaite, and sympathetically referred to the great interest he had at all time taken in the progress and prosperity of the school.

He had never spared himself to advance the school, and he hoped that although his close connection with Andover was about to be severed, he may in the future attend some meetings in connection with the school.

Canon Braithwaite responded and said he was grateful to Mr Dowling for his kind remarks.

It had been a real pleasure for him to be associated with the school, and personally he felt that the ennobling effects of the practice of art should be brought more prominently before the public.

The proceedings then closed.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 1926

LOCAL FILM ARTISTES
During the busy times last Friday in the High Street carnival, a car was travelling slowly about with a moving camera at work, and many local people have this week seen themselves on the film at the New Theatre, while amusing scenes are shown when the camera is speeded up and everything on film is going at a pace never dreamed of in real life.

Added to this, every evening anyone is invited to step up on the stage, which is arranged as a studio, and be filmed, and shown next evening, the idea being, as the producer explained, to find anyone with a suitable face to take up a film career, and to help cut out the enormous number of foreign films now being dumped in the country.

A number of local young people have availed themselves of the opportunity, and much amusement and interest has been caused to the audience by their endeavours to upstage Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks as film actors - and for a first appearance some of them have made a very fair performance of both joy and rage.

The one drawback is that the electric system at the Theatre at present is not strong enough to provide the power for the big arc lights necessary for the taking of a perfect picture, and the difference can be seen when entrants at other towns are shown on the screen.

Still, the affair makes a novel interlude in the programme, which includes Frank Early as the curate; Miss Madge Merle and Miss Dolly Denton, comediennes; Wayne and Ramsey, a drop of black and white; Eddy Bayes, London’s versatile comedian from the revue 'Fags'; Keith and Keith, costermonger impersonators.

These artists fill up the time with songs, grave and gay jokes, and dances, Eddy Bayes especially proving himself a favourite with the audience.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 16 FEBRUARY 1951

CENTRAL HOTEL TO CHANGE HANDS
After 30 years under private ownership, the present Central Hotel, well-known both locally and throughout the south of England as a family and commercial establishment, will be changing hands, probably within the next six weeks.

The Central Hotel, run by Mr and Mrs Churchouse, c.1930s. (Image: Edith Howard)

The new owners are Mr and Mrs Edgar James Bennett, of Springfield, London Road, Stockbridge, former licensees of the New Railway Inn, Andover.

The present owners, Mr and Mrs Charles Frederick Churchouse, who are now retiring from business, will be staying in the town and will live at ‘Moness,’ Alexandra Road.

Prior to her marriage, Mrs Churchouse, then Mrs Higgins, ran the old Central Hotel in Bridge Street, which was over the premises of Dowling and Sherwood, and she has been associated with the hotel business for 45 years.

Before coming to Andover, she held responsible positions in hotels at Ilfracombe and Torquay.

It was in 1930 that she and her husband moved into the present establishment which had been run as a limited company, after having been a private residence.

The building stands on the site of an old public house, believed to have been called by the curious name of the ‘Hanging Bush’.

As both a private house and later a hotel until 1930, it was called ‘The Knoll’ taking its name from that of the site.

Since the hotel has been owned by Mr and Mrs Churchouse, extensive alterations have been carried out; a number of rooms added and the place modernised throughout.

Mr Churchouse is a very keen golfer, and has been a member of the Andover club for over 20 years.

In the First World War, he served in the RNAS and RAF.

FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 1979

TOWN GETS ITS FIRST PELICAN
Current with the news that Guinness are to resurrect their famous toucan, Hampshire County Council is installing a pelican in Andover.

The pelican crossing at the junction of Bridge Street and Western Avenue will ‘take off’ at 10am on Tuesday.

It is the first pedestrian crossing of this breed to come to roost in the town, and leaflets explaining how it works have already been distributed to pensioners.

Anyone else wishing to obtain one of these leaflets may get them from the council offices or the library.

Mr Colin Heathcote, for Hampshire County Council, said he hoped it would 'make the crossing of Western Avenue easier for pedestrians while at the same time minimising the delay for traffic.'