ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 31 JANUARY 1890

WATERLOO IRON WORKS — MISSIONARY MEETING

On Tuesday evening last there was a large attendance at the Waterloo Iron Works Workmen’s Hall, notwithstanding, the unfavourable weather, on the occasion of a meeting, at which Capt.W.Hendy (who for some years was employed on the firm, but who had been for about four years labouring as a missionary in connection with the Salvation Army in India), was to give an address on mission work in the part of the country where is labours lay. He appeared before the audience dressed in the costume of a native missionary , and after singing , prayer, and the reading of a portion of scripture, he gave a detailed and interesting account of the progress which had been made in India, notwithstanding the many hardships and difficulties which had to be contended against; which not in a few instances went to such a length as risking life. He related several remarkable instances of conversions, which deeply interest his audience; while he showed several curiosities, idols, and other things, which added interest to his address.—Mr.H.Tasker also made a few brief remarks of an encouraging character; and altogether the meeting was a very profitable and interesting one.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 29 JANUARY 1915

CORRESPONDENCE — FEATHER BED SOLDIERS

Dear Sir,—The men of the Royal Engineers who have come into our homes as lodgers are not likely to be remembered by the householders with such genuine feelings of pleasure as the lads of the Lancashire Brigade, who brought fun and joy into many a home. Kitchener’s Army from the North, coming into Andover as they did from the wilds of Salisbury Plain, where they were accustomed to sleep on rain sodden turf were more than delighted at the thoughts of sleeping on straw filled mattresses in people’s front rooms. They settled down with a delicious sense of joy, and their sleep was so sweet as that of a king on his downy couch.

The Engineers, however, are not content to live on the same terms as their northern comrades. They had no mattresses it is true, but in many cases where people made up cosy beds—ordinary bedclothes on woollen mattresses—these pillowy knights, I hear, have made complaints, and think that nothing less than a feather bed in a front upstair room is good enough for them. They complain that they have given up lucrative posts to rough it for their king and country, and so did our late guests from the north, but they looked at the matter in a patriotic light, not from the view of luxurious ease and comfort. There no soft, downy cushions on sale in France, and surely they should be trained to as hard life as well as in all the other details pertaining to the trade of the Engineer.

I do not for one moment wish to see Andover devoid of the military element; the people in most cases have done their best for past guests, but there is no encouragement to do the best for grumblers. As I read the latest Act of Parliament on the subject of billeting, beds are only to be provided when the full rate of pay (3s. 4½d. a day) is given. In this case, however, the Engineers are expecting more for their money than ever the Lancashire Brigade dreamed of.—Yours truly, HOUSEHOLDER.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 2 FEBRUARY 1940

CORRESPONDENCE — PROTECTIVE HELMETS FOR BABIES

Sir,—The helmets for babies under 18 months are now available for issue. Mothers of such will be invited to attend at Clare House at a given time and date by letter, to receive instruction and the helmet for which they will have to sign an agreement.

About 20 at a time will be called up to avoid congestion and also to enable the instructor to make sure that each mother understands fully her duty—perambulators may be brought for demonstration.

The first distribution takes place next Monday.

It should be carefully noted that the helmet is Government property, for which the parent is responsible for its proper care anf to return it to Clare House when the child outgrows it.

Evacuees babies are eligible for an issue, and their mothers should inform their nearest A.R.P.Warden if in doubt of being included in his list.—Yours faithfully, A.E.DANIEL, Chairman A.R.P.Committee, 126 Millway Road, Andover.

FIFTY YEARS AGO —29 JANUARY 1965

SHOPS CLOSING FOR FUNERAL

The “Advertiser” understands that at least 15 of the major shops in the centre of Andover will be closing between 11 a.m. and 12 noon during Sir Winston Churchill’s funeral, as a mark of respect.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 2 FEBRUARY 1990

TENANTS FACE RENT RISE SHOCK

Council house rents in Test Valley look set to soar by an average £5.50 a week despite strong protests from Democrat and Independent councillors who fear that added to the community charge — expected to be far higher than the estimated £218 — the increases will leave many families on the breadline.

The massive 22.5 per cent rise. Which will take effect from April of given final approval next week, comes as Test Valley endeavours to maintain existing services and pursue its future building programme in the light of central government’s squeeze on housing expenditure. It will out an extra £32 per month on the rent bill of tenants in a four bedroom house at King Arthurs Way and up to £22 in the cost of a warden serviced one bedroom flat.

10 YEARS AGO — 28 JANUARY 2005

‘AMBULANCE WELCOME’: NHS CHIEF

Andover War Memorial Hospital’s commissioning organisation [Mid Hampshire Primary Care Trust’s chief executive Chris Evennett] has invited the town’s ambulance station to move onto its site.

FACELIFT NEEDED

Andover Health Centre has been singled out as one of the hospital buildings in need of a facelift.

But the Mid Hants Primary Care Trust and Winchester and Eastleigh Health Care Trust have to claw back some of their £10 million deficit before this can happen, trust board chief executive Chris Evennet said.