ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 8 DECEMBER 1893

CHRISTMAS FARE

We learn that Messrs.Clark and Webb, purveyors, are displaying their usual energy and enterprise in preparing for the Christmas season, and among their purchases to date are the following:—1 very prime Welsh ox, 2nd prize Smithfield Club Show, fed by Col.H.Platt, Gorddinog, Llanfairfechan, Carnarvonshire; 1 prime Sussex ox, 3rd prize Smithfield, fed by J.Goodman, Esq., Park Hatch, Godalming; 17 very prime Devon beasts from H.Hopkins Esq., Hammon; 6 very choice oxon from H.Portsmouth, Esq.; 40 choice wether sheep from the Most Noble the Marquis of Winchester; 50 splendid turkeys from Mr.Henley, Chute.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 6 DECEMBER 1918

HAPPY HAPPENINGS

Councillor and Mrs McLoughlin were delighted this week to welcome home their eldest boy, Corporal McLoughlin from Mons. He went out in 1914 and his company went over the top on the morning at ten minutes to eleven, armistice day, a few moments before hostilities ceased. This will be the first Christmas for five years at home and singularly, it coincides with his twenty first year, his father’s twenty-one years as a member of the Town Council and his parents silver wedding, the anniversary of which, he will be home for, the end of the month.

A LOCAL RECORD

Lieut.H.G.Teverson son of Mr.Walter Teverson, of Eastanton, has been awarded a second bar to his Military Cross for conspicuous bravery in the field. Previous to his last three decorations, the cross, first bar, second bar, he had won the Military Medal for outstanding gallantry. This record is unique locally, and we believe in the county, and is remarkably good for a young man holding so low a commissioned rank.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 10 DECEMBER 1943

THE TRAIN SMASH

Last week we reported a collision between a fast goods train and an empty troop train at Andover Junction Station. We are now informed that Signalman Mabey of the West Signal Box, seeing that the freight train was going to over-run the signals, ran out of the box in an endeavour to place some detonators on the line to attract the attention of the enginemen. He did, in fact, place one detonator on the rail when the engine ran over it and exploded it almost immediately. Signalman Mabey then turned and ran in the direction of the Swindon line to avoid being struck be the debris of the wagons, etc., and in doing so tripped and fell, injuring his knee and ribs. It was very dark at the time, and undoubtedly Mr.Mabey ran a great risk of being seriously injured or even losing his life in an attempt to carry out the regulations. We are happy to know that he is getting better, but at the time of writing was not able to resume duty.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 6 DECEMBER 1968

RENT INCREASE FOR TOWN’S 2,900 COUNCIL TENANTS?

Shock news today for Andover’s 2,900 council house tenants. Andover Borough Council will be asked on Monday night to approve rent increases ranging from 1/1d. to 2/5d. a week for all brought and town development houses.

Hardest hit are the tenants in four-bedroomed houses on the Pilgrims Way estate where it is proposed to increase rents to £3/11/- a week exclusive, an increase of 2/5d.

Compiler’s note: Allowing for inflation 1968’s £3/11/- (£3.55) would today be £59.80.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 10 DECEMBER 1993

GERALD STOODLEY A TV ‘LOCAL HERO’

Andover is featured on television on Thursday 23 December when the subject of Meridian’s ‘Local Hero’ programme will be Gerald Stoodley of Anton Road.

Gerald, who was nominated as a local hero by Andover Advertiser Editor Ken Dykes, has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity through sponsored walks since receiving a new liver in a life-saving transplant operation 18 months ago.

In addition he has campaigned tirelessly for everyone to carry an organ donor card so that other people will get the ‘second chance’ that he had to live their life to the full.

TEN YEARS AGO — 5 DECEMBER 2008

‘BAD ROAD’ NEEDS AN UPGRADE

Hampshire County Council have delayed work on the C29 — Overton to A303/Micheldever Road — until early next year, despite the poor state of the road.

Work on improving the haunches south of the railway-bridge, originally scheduled to start in September will not begin until 2 February 2009, and will last for two weeks.

The county council had been asked not to delay the work in view of the poor state of the road.

However, as part of its contract with Amey, it has to undertake all work estimated to cost below a certain amount.

According to the county council, Amey does not have the manpower to undertake the work earlier.

Transport and highways representative on Overton Parish Council Brain Langer said: “If you drive down that road you will see how bad it is.

“You only need a couple of HGVs to meet there and it wouldn’t surprise me if one toppled over because it’s such a bad camber.

“The whole road is bad.

“What most people are up in arms about is that it’s in such an abysmal condition for the amount of use it gets.

“We have asked the county council if they would change it to a Broad, which would mean that we’d get more money for its upkeep. “There’s a lot of traffic at eight in the morning; we get school transport like double-decker buses.”

Mr Langer added that the closure of the C29 would mean that vehicles wishing to get access to places like Laverstoke Park would need to gain access via the village.