ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 25 MAY 1894

ANDOVER BOROUGH BENCH — SUNDAY AMUSEMENT

William L--- and William G---- were summoned for playing at a game—tossing for money—on a certain highway leading from the Salisbury Road to Mead Hedges on Sunday the 13th inst.—P.C.Gray said that on the 13th May, Sunday, at about 3 o’clock, he was on duty on the footpath at Mead Hedges, when he saw the defendants tossing with money. He watched them about five minutes, during which they were playing. He was about three yards from them when G---- saw him, and called out “Look up,” and ran down the Salisbury Road. L--- picked up the money and ran, but witness caught him up and asked him what game they were playing, when he said he did not know; and further, in reply to questions, he said he had no money; but on searching his pockets he found he had, besides the two pence with which they had been tossing. There were two boys watching out.—In reply to G----, he said defendant did not tell him he had no copper but he had 3s. 6d. in silver.—Defendants said they were going for a walk, when the question arose as to which way they should go, when they tossed up a penny to decide which way they should go. Then they tossed to see who could get most heads out of three. They were not tossing for money.—The Clerk: You are not charged with gambling, but with playing a game calculated to annoy people passing.—Supt.Miller said that until recently this gambling had been almost unknown since he had been in the district, but recently he had had complaints, and he brought this case forward to put a stop to the practice rather than to punish them. He hoped it would be a caution to other fellows gambling.—The Bench accepted defendants’ explanation of their conduct, and after cautioning them dismissed the summons.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 23 MAY 1919

CORRESPONDENCE — THE BUILDING TRADE AND HOUSING QUESTION

Sir,—There is one aspect of the housing question which has not been discussed very much locally up to date, but which will have to be discussed, and an agreement arrived at before nay new housing can proceed in this district or contracts given out for building houses (private or otherwise “for heroes to live in,” and that is the question of the wages of the building trade. I saw last week that an agreement has been arrived at between employers and men at Weymouth, Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Gosport, Southampton, and Winchester. At the time of writing nothing has been heard of any agreement at Andover, though the builders of Andover have had before them proposed scale of wages for over two months. For the honour of our town employers should fall into line with neighbouring towns, and adopt the same scale all round as it is very difficult to meet a 120 per cent. rise in the cost of living on the present rate.—

I remain, yours, etc., HARD HIT.

(If one who is hit is waiting for the artisans dwellings for a job, he is likely to be out for some time, as the cost of building is prohibitive to public authorities and private speculator or investors, so far as house property is concerned. In Andover the builders have always endeavoured to keep their men on from January to December, and many of the older men could not be retained on the higher wages, although probably they would be able to get through more work than some of the young men back from the army, judging by experiences of those who have put building work in hand.—Ed. A.A.)

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 26 MAY 1944

NOTICE

“THEY’RE SO MUCH WISER TO WAIT, MY DEAR!

Mind you, it’s natural for young people to want to set up home at once. I don’t blame them! But I’ve told Dolly that it’s no good she and Ted buying while things are so scarce and that they may have to pay high prices to get the articles they are looking for. They can make do here quite comfortably for a bit. Meantime their savings will be mounting. Then they’ll have a nice sum to shop with when there are enough goods for everybody to get what they want.”

YOU’LL BE GLAD YOU KEPT ON SAVING

Savings Certificates — Defence Bonds — Post Office and Trustee Savings Banks

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 23 MAY 1969

TOWN’S NEW 90ft. HIGH LANDMARK

This week a new landmark has appeared on the Andover scene. It is a 90ft.high crane which is being used by the contractors on Andover’s new town centre.

The crane, which has a span of 115ft.will start work next week.

The contractors, Messrs,F.Rendell & Sons Ltd., Devizes, plan to erect another crane — 50ft.high — in two or three weeks.

About 60 men are employed on the new town centre, and most of the foundation work has now been completed.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 27 MAY 1994

REG BACK AT THE TOP

While the proceeds of a hit record in the charts roll in, Andover’s premier pop personality Reg Presley has his sights set firmly on the stars.

In 1967 Reg penned the song ‘Love is All Around’ for the Troggs in a 10 minute burst of creativity.

He could surely have not imagined then, that in 1994 a cover of the tune by Wet Wet Wet (as featured in hit movie Four Weddings and a Funeral) would again take the Top 10 by storm.

Now Andover’s ‘Wildest Thing’ is hoping to use some of the royalties from the record on his latest hobby — photographing crop circles from the air.

Reg is convinced that the phenomena are caused by extra-terrestrials and hopes that aerial photography may help unlock the mystery.