ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 9 MARCH 1894

ANDOVER TOWN COUNCIL — THE SHEEP FAIR

Councillor Clarke said there was another little matter to which he would call their attention. It was necessary that the affairs of the Sheep Fair Committee should be settled. The principal bills were paid, but there were one or two little things he would want orders drawing for. These were a little item due to Mr.Tredgold, and an omission of 5s. from the account of the Andover Advertiser, and he should be glad if they would allow the orders to be drawn. He was happy to say that the sheep fair was a great success financially this year, as well as an institution of the town. They received for coops and cattle the sum of £80 14s. 6d., which he thought was almost as large a sum as they had ever taken before, and certainly better than any late fair.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 7 MARCH 1919

CORRESPONDENCE — LANDLORDS PREFERENCE FOR EX-SERVICE MEN.

Sir,—May I suggest, through the medium of your paper, that the local landlords form themselves into a body and give preference to ex-service men when their houses become vacant? At the present time the housing question in Andover is really deplorable, and will undoubtedly be more accentuated as the boys come home. A goodly percentage of them have married during their stay in the services, and on their return will naturally look forward to a home of their own. Are they to be penalised through the civilian community snapping up all the empty houses?

I notice there has been a lot of flowery speeches and good intentions for the lads at the various meetings recently held. Why not add the above suggestion to their list and stick to it. I myself discharged, invalided, require a house, but what hopes after already waiting three months? — Perhaps the Mayor will convene a meeting.

DUM SPIRO SPERO.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 10 MARCH 1944

NOTICE

Ophelia Snodkins loved to ride

On the crown of the road instead of the side.

No signal she gave as she swerved to the right,

So a sprightly young life met its end that night.

Let Ophelia’s ghost be a warning to you

If you wish to live to a hundred and two.

LOOK OUT IN THE BLACKOUT!!

WILTS & DORSET Motor Services Limited.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 7 MARCH 1969

THE “EMPTY BEDROOMS” PROBLEM DISCUSSED

The problem of “empty bedrooms” in council houses was discussed by Andover Rural District Council’s Housing Committee on Friday.

Mr.M.B.K.Colvin (Tangley) said that in his parish there were a number of empty bedrooms in council houses occupied by people who should be in old people’s bungalows.

“There is a pressing need in Tangley for old people’s bungalows rather than, say, three-bedroomed houses.”

Mr.J.D.Threadgill (chairman), said the difficulty was that there were many people with two or three children. The family had grown up and left home, leaving mother and father in a three-bedroomed house.

“But what can you do? You cannot turn them out and in some cases they don’t like to move,” he said.

Mr.J.L.Morgan commented: “We would like people to move but we don’t dig our heels in and say they must go.”

Mrs.D.C.M.Simson (Fyfield) said there were old people in her parish who would “willingly move,” but they could not afford the high rents of the new bungalows at Duncans Close.

Mr.R.K.Shaw Porter said: “If people live in a council house at a low rent and you ask them to move into an old people’s bungalow at an increased rent-would the council consider this is a case where it might save us money to subsidise that change[?] At least we would get a large council house we haven’t got to build.”

But Mr.J.D.Threadgill said that if they subsidised certain accommodation it would cause dissention [sic]. “we have got to be very careful about this.”

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 11 MARCH 1994

DESPITE SUCCESS OF NEW POLICING METHODS ANDOVER FACES MORE OFFENCES INVOLVING SEX, DRUGS AND VIOLENT CRIME

Changes in the organizsation [sic] of Andover police have paid dividends in catching criminals but the town is still on the county’s top three for crimes of violence and sex offences.

Statistics from the latest Hampshire Chief Constable’s Annual Report show local police spend most of their time dealing with violence and sex offences than in most other parts of the county.

The figures reveal that only two of the force’s 20 sub-division have a higher percentage ratio of violence, robbery and sex offences.

TEN YEARS AGO — 6 MARCH 2009

TOWN COUNCIL PLEDGE COMES WITH WARNING

THE leader of Test Valley Borough Council will back a town council for Andover if the people make a clear-cut decision in favour. But Councillor Ian Carr said he was not sure that it was “as clear as that” and warned that a town council could not be run on the current Andover levy.

His comments came the day after the 5,000-strong petition from campaigners was formally verified by the council as valid – and after a public meeting held by town council campaigners in the Guildhall on Tuesday.