ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 18 MAY 1894

A RUNAWAY

On Tuesday morning considerable excitement was caused by a runaway horse dashing through the High Street without reins or bridle. It appears to have started from Abbotts Ann, where a traveller, having just commenced his journey, left his horse and trap in charge of a young man, who noticing the bridle a bit loose while the horse was grazing went towards its head to put it right. The animal however took fright, and dashed off through the village, round the church, through the main road and then into the Salisbury Road, along which it proceeded at a great rate into Andover. Passing along Bridge Street it went up the High Street, round by Chantry Street, down the High Street again, and then up London Street, where it seemed to have been pretty well run out. The horse was not injured and the trap only slightly.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 16 MAY 1919

LUDGERSHALL — A CORRECTION

The Rector has asked us to make a correction in the report of his sermon in the parish church which we printed last week. The sentence “The worldly press was wise enough to recognise that infallible men made mistakes” should read “The worldly press was wise enough to recognise that fallible men made mistakes.” The Rector points out that the Pope is the only man who claims to be infallible.

Compiler’s note: Papal infallibility was first dogmatically defined in 1870 during the papacy of Pope Pius IX, was current at the time of the Rector’s comment during the papacy of Benedict XV, and continues to this day

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 19 MAY 1944

OVERTON — PROPERTY SALE

Twenty-five dwelling-houses and cottages, the property of the Sprent family, were put up to auction by Messrs.Gribble, Booth & Shepherd in the Red Lion Hotel on May 10. Only two failed to find a purchaser, the remaining 23 selling for £3675, an average of a shade under £160 each. The highest price reached was £900 for two dwelling-houses in Winchester Street.

CORRESPONDENCE — SUGGESTION FROM A THIRSTY READER

Sir, —In view of the acute shortage of supplies to the licensed houses in this and many other districts (supplies which only allow many of the houses to be open for trade a few hours each week), would it not be a great help to the national effort for the licensees to be directed in their spare time to work of National Importance!—Yours truly, “THIRSTY READER.”

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 16 MAY 1969

“NEW LOOK” AT PLUMMERS

The smoothest changeover ever! That must be the verdict on Plummers department switch-round in Andover.

One-minute people were trudging upstairs in search of dishclothes [sic], tea towels and carpets and looking for fashion on the ground-floor and then before they knew what had happened there was a well-stocked, well-laid-out dress department upstairs and the dusters and tea towels were in their proper place—downstairs.

Planning the changeover took six weeks but the main part of it was done in 24 hours — and business wasn’t disrupted at all!

Plummer Roddis Ltd., sent their own carpenters and maintenance men to Once the fittings were in place, Plummer’s own staff worked solidly on a Wednesday (closing day) to move all the merchandise to its new place.

The millinery and juvenile departments (both now upstairs) are both larger and grouped more attractively. An addition to the stock in the children’s department is a large selection of prams and pushchairs.

Better fittings and brighter lighting upstairs make the dress department seem larger. The colour grouping is very good and selection is made easy by the good displays.

Downstairs are the items one looks for in a hurry.

Reels of cotton, dishclothes [sic], dusters—all on display and easy to find.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 20 MAY 1994

COMPANY RENTS MONOPOLY ROW

Test Valley Borough Council is being accused of misusing a ‘monopoly situation’ over commercial rents as agents for several well-known companies on Andover fight against proposed increases.

The authority is also being accused of failing to provide commercial information that would aid businesses to negotiate fair rents in the latest reviews, and a legal battle is about to start to force the release of such figures.

Agent Gary Kinally, acting for receivers on a plot at Imperial Court on Walworth estate, made the monopoly complaint against the local authority which owns Andover’s industrial estates.

He says he has been compelled, for the first time ever, to use a legal procedure to force the council to hand over information on other settlements so he can get the best deal for his clients.

Other companies support his complaint as some also consider going to arbitration, and he says the situation has grave implications for jobs.

“In a broader sense what is this doing to the status of Andover as an employment centre to attract employers?

“Is it competing with other centres to increase rents when other property prices have fallen by up to 50 per cent?”

Nationally known companies, including Stannah Lifts and Scott Commercials, are also considering arbitration.

Stannah is facing a 58 per cent rise in rent for its head office, with the company’s agent identifying the council being in ‘control of the local market’.

At Scott Commercials on Walworth Philip Sparshatt has complained to the Prime Minister about a rent increase he describes as ‘horrendous’.