ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 13 JULY 1894

FOXCOTTE — FLOWER SERVICE

A successful flower service was held in the church here on Sunday afternoon, when the Vicar of Andover preached from Gen. viii.21. The Andover Town Band attended and accompanied the hymns, and played a short selection of sacred music at the close of the service. Crowds were attracted by the band, and the churchyard was filled after the church was crowded, many having to stand; while several from a distance were compelled to return home without taking part in the service.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 11 JULY 1919

CORRESPONDENCE — A SPORTING OFFER AND OUR COLONIAL BROTHERS

Dear Sir,—I have had suggested to me (from members of our Imperial Troops) what I consider a most proper and reasonable proposition. This is the gist of it:—It would appear from all appearances that shortly our friends the Aussie Boys, New Zealanders and Canadians, will be on their way to their respective domiciles, and that before they depart from our neighbourhood some joyful event should be held in their honour. During the time the Colonials have been our neighbours (from 1915 to the present time) we have found them gentlemen and sportsmen, and they have been a great help to the trade of the borough a fact which I am sure our respected tradesmen will admit whole-heartedly. We have not had the trouble which some other towns have experienced, and this I put down to the credit of those concerned who have combined tact with patience, and the goodwill existing. Now to put the matter bluntly, to give a really good send-off, about £50 to £100 would be required to do the thing in a right royal way, and if 50 tradesmen would subscribe one or two guineas each (they would not miss it) we could give good prizes for some mist entertaining sports to our good friends the Colonials. Mr.A.H.White, of Lloyds Bank, has kindly offered to become treasurer, and any sum will be gladly received by him. Please keep him busy.—I am, yours faithfully,

F.W.BINGHAM.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 14 JULY 1944

PLANE CRASHES AT ANDOVER

A four motored crashed and finally came to grief at Ashfield Road, Andover, on Wednesday afternoon of last week, damaging three pairs of two-storied houses at the end of the road, four of the dwellings so severely that they were uninhabitable afterwards.

The story began shortly before 3.30 in the afternoon when a large plane was flying over the western district of the Town. It was very low and this, and the fact that its flight was uneven, suggested to those who watched it that it was in distress.

Suddenly the machine came towards the Weyhill Road. Possibly the pilot, seeing patches of green below him a few hundred yards ahead, endeavoured to reach the open to crash land, but if that was his intention, his low height prevented him from accomplishing it, for before he could fly over Weyhill Road the underpart of the plane struck the roof of Mr.Burbidge’s bakery tearing part of it off and a few yards further tore off the roof of the shop which is part of the same premises and fronts the Weyhill Road. The plane careered on, crossing the road, cutting down a stout ash tree in its path, ploughed itself across the small field which lies between Weyhill Road and Ashfield Road, leaving a portion of its silver wing behind, and wrecked itself in front of the six end houses on Ashfield Road. The four motors were scattered. Three were found in the gardens of the houses, the fourth crashed through into the front room of one of the dwellings and was discovered in the kitchen. The scene all round the field was indescribable. Bits of the plane which had almost disintegrated were scattered about the field, bodies of pigs in the field which it had killed outright or fatally injured as it ploughed its way through, lay about, and there was danger from exploding ammunition.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 11 JULY 1969

BUMPER CROWD WATCH VARIED AND COLOURFUL SPECTACLE

Andover Carnival procession through the streets of the town on Wednesday night was a resounding success. Five bands sandwiched between ingeniously decorated floats and attractive, topical and comical fancy dress costumes made this a colourful and entertaining spectacle which compared favourably with the best and brightest of past years.

The mile-and-a-half route was lined by cheering, happy crowds and flag-waving children. Even the despondent carnival organisers, whose earlier events have taken a financial hammering, managed to smile in gratitude. Rain, which marred the other events, had given way to clear blue skies and sunshine as the procession—one of the longest for many years—made its way from Tollgate Road led by the band of the 15/19 King’s Royal Hussars.

Following behind were the ever-present vehicles of Andover Fire Station and Miss Andover (Jan Everest), the Junior Carnival Queen (Jackie Portsmouth) and their attendants. Their float—loaned by the Andover Haulage Company and magnificently decorated with summer flowers by the Parks Department of Andover Borough Council—was one of the most outstanding floats in the procession.

The Mayor (Cllr.Mrs.Anne Thorne) and her husband were in an enclosed car immediately behind. The main procession wound its way into Charlton Road, Junction Road, where it was joined by the children’s procession at the junction of Osborne and Balmoral Roads. It then proceeded along Bridge Street into the gaily-decorated and packed High Street, round the Guildhall, into London Street, London Road, to the Sheep Fair where Miss Andover presented the prizes.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 15 JULY 1994

EXPORT EXPERTS

Stannah Stairlifts workers have been thanked by company bosses for their part in winning the Queen’s Award for export.

The emblem and warrant, signed by Prime Minister John Major, were presented to managing director David Walton by Lord Lieutenant Mary Fagan in a recent ceremony at the company’s East Portway headquarters.

Brian Stannah told the workers, some of whom had been invited for the day from the Swansea and Gateshead factories: “My brother and I are very proud of this occasion and this gives me the opportunity to say thank-you to all of you who have made it possible.”