ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 6 APRIL 1894

CORRESPONDENCE — THE RECENT FIRE — ANDOVER BUILDING WORKS

Sir, —We, the undersigned workmen in the employ of Mr.F.Beale, who lost our tools during the fire at the above works, beg to return our sincere and respectful thanks to the Mayor, clergy, gentry, business firms, and others who have so generously subscribed to the Tool Fund. We are very grateful for what you have done for us. (Signed)

Geo.Knight, E.Toomer, Luke Powers, A.Lawrence, H.Salisbury, A.Salisbury, D,Cawte, J.King, E.Bedman, Geo.Palmer, A.Stanmore, H.Lumley, F.Powers, F.D.Beare, J.Winkworth, R.Chubb.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 4 APRIL 1919

ANDOVER COUNTY BENCH — CHILDREN’S COURT

Before J.C.Forster, Esq., W.Cory, Esq., F.C.Ellen, Esq., Col.Jenkins.

Sidney S------- (8½), Abbotts Ann, was charged with the theft of eight mole traps valued at 12s. the property of Howard Thomas Bragg. — P.C.Prior said on March 11 defendant told him at the interview “I saw three lying in the field yesterday morning and three this morning. I put three in the shed in the field and three against the tree.” He found the traps as stated, and asked defendant how he got them and sold them to Perren, and he stated “I took it from the field yesterday.” Asked about another he added “I took that from the field yesterday.” — Frank Hebdidge, foreman for Mr.Bragg, spoke to setting the traps and missing them. —Defendant’s father appeared and said he was not altogether a troublesome boy. —Supt.Cox gave the boy a good character and the Bench ordered defendant to have three strokes with the birch rod.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 7 APRIL 1944

CORRESPONDENCE — SQUADRON LEADER DONNER AND HIS CRITICS

Sir, —Mr Donner in the letter which appeared in today’s issue of the Andover Advertiser, states that his support of Franco was based upon “the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of other countries.” The party to which Mr.Donner belongs clung to this non-intervention policy from the time of the General Election in 1935 until September 1939. It was this policy that allowed the growth of the Nazi Party in Germany, and the rearmament first demonstrated by the re-occupation of the Rhineland in March, 1936. It allowed the growth of Fascism in Italy, signalised by the conquest of Abyssinia. Tory policy tolerated the absorption of Austria and Czechoslovakia. Non-intervention allowed the Fascist power to grow so strong that nearly five years of war has not conquered it.

I think the men in the Forces today and the families at home who have lost their men in the war would agree with me that the “non-intervention in internal affairs” which made possible the growth of Fascism might, resulting in all the horrors of this war, is yet another grave flaw in the policy of Mr.Donner’s party. —Yours faithfully,

J.MICHAEL McF.EDWARDS, Wildhern.

Compiler’s note: Patrick Donner was Conservative MP for the Basingstoke Constituency which then included Andover, from 1935 to 1955. It is suggested from the papers of Henry Drummond Wolf, Conservative MP for Basingstoke 1934 – 1935, that Sir Oswald Mosley (Leader of the British Union of Fascists from 1931) interviewed Donner to decide upon his suitability to serve as MP for the Basingstoke constituency, which had previously been held by Drummond Wolff and Viscount Lymington (1929-1934) — who both were on the right wing of the Conservative Party.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — THURSDAY, 3 APRIL 1969

A (HIGHLAND) WEDDING THEY’LL NEVER FORGET

Highland Wedding was given a hero’s welcome on his return to the village of Fyfield, three miles from Andover, on Sunday afternoon after his magnificent triumph in the Grand National the previous day.

Despite the pouring rain the villagers turned out in force to cheer the gallant 12-year-old gelding as he was led through the main street of the village (population 314) to trainer Toby Balding’s stables.

And — appropriately — the newly-weds Penny and Douglas Garlick were on hand to lead the “Welcome Home” procession.

The former Penny Cook, a 19-year-old Fyfield girl, and 22-year-old Douglas, who comes from Enham Alamein, were married in St.Michael’s Church in the village at about the time Highland Wedding was bounding majestically round the famous Aintree course.

They had planned to go off on honeymoon to Cornwall on Sunday morning but when asked to lead the welcome home parade they immediately agreed to delay their departure.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 8 APRIL 1994

ANGER OVER A303 CHAOS

Frustrated motor racing enthusiasts hurled abuse at Andover police officers after enduring hours stuck in a 12-mile traffic jam as entry to Thruxton Circuit ground to a halt on Easter Monday.

Cars bringing over 16,000 spectators poured along the A303 from all parts of the country for the opening race in 1994 season of the hugely popular touring car championship.

This was in addition to the normal Easter holiday weekend traffic on the main road from London to the south west.

The chaos increased as some fans abandoned cars by the side of the main road and walked to the circuit, others parked in surrounding roads, fields and in Thruxton village which came to a standstill.

Some vehicles had to be towed off the road to keep traffic to the West Country flowing and drivers received fixed penalty tickets.

At the end of the race meeting the A303 became a ‘chicken run’ as drivers returning to their abandoned vehicles attempted to cross the dual carriageway on foot.

Seven police officers, backed up by six special constables, struggled to control the influx but Pc Ted Reynolds said: “We could have had 150 policemen and we still would not have coped.”