Back Through the Pages: Cooks, charm and clocks

COTTAGE COOKERY

The certificates in connection with the class for cottage cookery, conducted in the Foresters’ Hall under the County Council scheme of technical education, were presented to the successful competitors in that hall on Wednesday night by the Vicar in the absence of Major Poore, chairman of the local committee. The class has been well attended during the course, there having been 24 pupils on the books and nine of them had gained certificates. These were Clara Foss, Ethel Foss, Elizabeth Ball, Annie Webb, Emma Levy, Agnes Bowley, Mary Wells, Mabel Skeates, and Bessie Stevens. Two of the girls, Elizabeth Ball and Agnes Bowley, had not missed once; while Ethel Foss and Elizabeth Ball received prizes for washing the cooking utensils up.—The Vicar, in making the presentations, said there was nothing more useful for girls than cookery, as it was one of those things that tended to make homes happy. Then it tended to economy, as there was a great deal of waste through not knowing how to make the most of things, and he instanced how useful was the art of making beef tea so as to get the most extract from the meat. Then, too, he pointed out how useful cookery was to those who went out to service.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 6 JUNE 1919

THE VOICE THAT CHARMS

Why do so few women realise the value of a pleasant voice? We all know certain people who have a peculiar charm of their own, a few minutes’ conversation with who soothes in some indescribable way, however jaded and jangled one’s nerves may be. Think it out, and you will realise, says a woman writer, that bit is simply the quality of the voice that does it. The actual conversation has nothing to do with it, and if you puzzle it out you will find that your most charming friend is seldom the cleverest of your acquaintances. Her secret is this—she never drawls, she has no “accent,” and the pitch of her voice is always right. Consequently she will never alienate your sympathy. In fact, her words are welcome cadences which caress the ear and fascinate the heart.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 9 JUNE 1944

CLANVILLE — WHIT-MONDAY FETE

A very successful fete, which included a baby show, stalls and side-shows, was held in the grounds of Clanville House, kindly lent by Mrs.Lynall Clarke, on Whit-Monday. The extent of its success can be judged by the fact that After expenses had been paid over £75 will go to the Youth Club. For which the event was organised. The Rector (the Rev.Bolus) performed the opening ceremony, and the baby show was judged by Mrs.Peter Henderson. The stall holder sand side-show helpers were: Secondhand clothes, Mrs.Neale, Mrs.North; produce, Mr.Horne; fancy goods, Mrs.Simpson; secondhand books, Miss Skeates; side-shows, Mr.Colley, John North, Cecil Sturt, Alan Horne, Jack Skull, Nan Carter, Betty Crozier; lemonade and refreshments, Mrs.Sturt, Mrs.Reece, Mrs.Williams. There were pony rides, tennis, etc., and children’s sports, and a concert, which included “The Hampshire Yokel” and Mervyn Webb (baritone), was a big success.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 6 JUNE 1969

CONTINUED DAMAGE TO FLORAL CLOCK

In his report to Andover Borough Council’s Parks and Properties Committee, Mr.J.Middleton-Taylor, the borough engineer, said that if the clock in Salisbury Road continued to suffer from vandalism, the committee might consider taking it away altogether.

Mr.Middleton-Taylor went on to say that the hands of the clock have been damaged to such an extent that partial replacement had been made necessary. The work was now being carried out with the minimum of expense and it was hoped that the clock would be replaced shortly.

Ald.Frank Samuels did not think it should be taken away. “People look for the clock when they pass through the town and they soon remark if it is not working.”

He though the clock was expensive to run purely because of the vandals.

Ald.Samuels continued: “If any of those vandals are caught damaging the clock, they should be severely punished.”

People should be public spirited enough to report anyone they saw damaging it and be prepared to go to court and give evidence, he said.

The committee agreed with Mr.Middleton-Taylor’s suggestion that publicity to the problem might be helpful.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 10 JUNE 1994

TOWN CENTRE FUTURE GRIM

Andover’s town centre could be destroyed by out of town shopping area, with an extra £40 million annually being lost from the High Street if Safeway is allowed to build a new superstore on the outskirts of Charlton.

The warning came from local traders as the supermarket giant prepares to launch an appeal next week against Test Valley Borough Council’s refusal to grant it planning permission.

Retailers fear they will not be able to compete with the free parking, cheaper goods, and range of ancillary services that an out of town superstore could provide.

Their claims, voiced at a Chamber of Commerce meeting, were countered by a former Chamber Secretary, Derek Smith, who argued that, if the scheme was blocked, it could result in the supermarket pulling out of the area completely.

“We are going to lose a major site, and the jobs that are associated with it,” he said.

Opposing him, businessman, George Frewin, described the possible scenario if the Safeway application is given the green light.

“More shops will close, giving the impression that the town is dying on us,” he said.

“You have to think of the knock-on effect this will have, psychologically and on the well-being of other traders.

“In the end, it will destroy the town.”

Retailers also blame high rents and time-limited car parking in the town centre for giving out of town stores an unfair advantage.