ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 29 JUNE 1894

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PENTON

Loyal Wellington Lodge of Oddfellows

THE Members of the above Lodge will hold their

ANNUAL FESTIVAL

On WEDNESDAY, JULY 4th , 1894.

The Members will meet at their Lodge Room at the White Hart Inn at 10.30, and proceed to Church, headed by the

BURBAGE BRASS BAND.

After Divine Service a PROCESSION will be formed and parade the Village till One o’clock, the time appointed for

DINNER,

which will take place at the White Hart Inn.

Tickets 2s. 6d. each, to be had of D.Coombs (sec.) and Mr.Hampton, Penton.

DANCING at 5.30. Roundabouts, Cocoa Nuts, and Swinging Boats. Refreshments on the Ground.

Admission to the Ground, 3d. Children half-price.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 27 JUNE 1919

NEW HOSPITAL SITE

At Mr.Henry Gamman’s suggestion, a very large board, worded “Site of Andover War Memorial Hospital,” which can be read from the railway, is to be placed on the above site. Mr.Gamman, whose generosity is inexhaustible, has very kindly offered to pay the whole cost of this board and to make all arrangements for its erection.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 30 JUNE 1944

SAFE DRIVING IN UNIFORM

Squadron Leader Patrick Donner, M.P., visited the Andover Post Office on Friday and presented 26 awards in the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents “Safe Driving” competition to local postmen and postwomen for 1943, in the presence of a large gathering of the local staff.

Squadron Leader Donner presented the awards to the following:— Mr.P.E.Bacon, Mr.F.Cox, Mr.W.Down, Mr.J.B.Holmes, Mr.J.C.R.Johnson and Mr.R.G.Stockwell, 14 years; Mr.J.Perry, 12 years; T.Webb, 10 years; Mr.H.H.Butler and Mr.C.Watts, 8 years; Mr.S.Byrne 6 years; Mr.F.Olden and Mr.V.W.Bull, 5 years; Mr.W.E.Allen and Mr.J.Thompson, 4 years; Mr.H.T.Pledge, 3 years; Miss P.L.Blackman, Mr.H.Cole, Mr.J.R.Hardy and Mr.G.E.Marchant, 2 years; Mr.T.J.Bensley, Mr.S.Portsmouth, Mr.J.Stock, Mr.J.T.Webb and Mrs.M.Wooler, 1 year.

Squadron Leader Donner then thanked the Head Postmaster for the invitation to present the awards and said that he would not make a very long speech as he had been indisposed during the morning. Nevertheless, he humorously remarked that, although he would have liked to bring his dog with him, the Post Office staff would understand that dogs were liable to take very immoderate views of Post Office uniformed staff. He recalled his own pride, some years ago, when he was telling his sister that he had just completed 10 years driving without an accident, and his consternation when, a few moments later, he turned to wave and crashed into a lamp post.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 27 JUNE 1969

THE GIRLS OF THE APOLLO PHYSICAL CULTURE CLUB

They’re no dumb belles, Andover’s weight lifting ladies!

Sorry — I couldn’t resist that one — but it’s true that the girls of the Apollo Physical Culture Club know what’s good for them.

Even though I sit here with aching arms and shoulders that feel as if they’ve been stretched on the rack, I still agree with the club members that an evening of swinging the barbells (the long things with big round weights on) and the dumb-bells (little ones that you operate one-handed) can make you feel very good.

The members certainly look good. The exercises are graded and are designed to reduce flabby fat and to tone and strenthen [sic] the body.

There is nothing “butch” about women’s weightlifting — many beauty queens — including Katherine Winstanley, a Miss United Kingdom — go to these type of classes as the exercises can — in time — shape your figure in all the right places!

They receive masculine encouragement in the shape of the club founder, Irishman, John Hughes and two instructors, John Keen and Nick Van Rensburg.

John came “over the water” about nine years ago having run two similar clubs in Ireland. He ran a physical culture club in Teddington and was an instructor employed by the Surrey County Council in a Youth Club.

The Apollo Club was formed in Andover two years ago. The Tenants Association helped him to find the premises which are behind the doctor’s surgery at the foot of New Street.

The women — most of whom are married — meet once a week but the men — who lift much heavier weights train three or four times a week.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 1 JULY 1994

CRACKING DOWN ON TOWN CENTRE CRIME

There will be more bobbies on the beat in Andover town centre, thanks to a new police initiative aimed at cracking down on shoplifters and other offenders.

Two police officers, Pc Mark Fower and Pc John Murphy, have been specially tasked to patrol the main shopping area during opening hours.

Andover police superintendent Keith Cockburn says the ‘back to basics’ project aims to make shoppers and shopkeepers feel more secure.

“We feel it is time for us to go back to the traditional way of policing in this area,” he said.

“Police officers visible in the town will give a lot more reassurance to the law-abiding members of the public who want to feel comfortable.”