ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 3 AUGUST 1894

SUTTON SCOTNEY — ATTACKED BY A WEASEL

One morning last week a somewhat novel experience befell a man named David Smith, who was attacked by a weasel. He was kneeling in front of his woodhouse door sharpening his hoe with a file, when he was suddenly attacked by a large weasel, which was so determined in his attack that although he beat it off four or five times with his hands it returned with equal fury. At last he was able to hit it with his hoe and killed, it though not before it had bitten his hand. It is thought that the weasel had its young in the woodhouse, and hearing the sound of the file ran out to protect them.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 1 AUGUST 1919

200 YEARS OF INDUSTRY — LAVERSTOKE MILLS CELEBRATES A BI-CENTENARY

It was a happy gathering which assembled in Laverstoke Park on Saturday to celebrate the bi-centenary of the Mills—Laverstoke, Overton, Bramshott, Turkey—products from which have been circulated throughout the Empire. A large marquee had been erected and here about 700 employes [sic] from the neighbourhood and Bramshott assembled to partake of the excellent luncheon which the firm generously provided. Sir William Portal, that popular chief, presided, and was ably supported by Mr.Spencer Portal, Lieut.-Col.W.R.Portal, D.S.O., M.V.O., and the heads of departments, what was particularly noticeable being the fine esprit de corps between employers and employed, which characterised the dinners as well as the post-prandial proceedings.

Following the loyal toast, in connection with which a telegram of congratulation was read from the Bank of England, Mr.J.S.Fox-Andrews (manager) called on the audience to drink the health of “The Head of the Firm, Sir William Portal.” They had reached a most glorious moment in British history, said Mr.Fox-Andrews, the signing of the greatest and most victorious peace, and they wished to greet all that had served in the great war and thank them for what they had achieved (hear, hear).

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 4 AUGUST 1944

NOTICE — FOOD FACTS — RATIONS FOR ONE

It’s less easy to manage on a single ration than it is to cater for a family when one has three or four Ration Books to juggle with, but given imagination and ingenuity, it is possible for those with one Ration Book to avoid monotony and eat well. Sometimes you will buy your meat ration in one piece, pot-roast it, and eat the remainder cold with some appetising trimming. Sometimes you will grill or stew your three chops, or make pie, pudding and casserole out od your 1s. 2d. worth of stewing steak. A vegetable stew with dumplings or a cheese and vegetable pasty will provide you with another main meal. Bacon Hash, a risotto of diced liver sausage, a Pilchard salad, or Scotch eggs or Mock Hamburgers are other good dishes for the man or woman who lives alone.

A week’s Menu for one person living alone and recipes for many of the dishes mentioned may be had, free of charge. Please send postcard marked “leaflets” to the Ministry of Food, London, W.1.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 1 AUGUST 1969

WHITCHURCH TELEPHONISTS LOSE JOBS

Four telephonists will be out of work this week when their exchange goes STD*

Whitchurch has one of the last manually operated switchboards in Hampshire and they are going straight over to the automatic exchange at 8 a.m. on Thursday.

Until 1926 the Whitchurch Exchange was operated by a local Postmaster, and there were only about 25 subscribers. The equipment consisted of a small switchboard mounted on a wall in the Post Office.

The first telephonist was employed in 1926—a Miss Grace—who reached the short list for the Girl with the Golden Voice competition when the Speaking Clock was invented.

The present switchboard supervisor, Mrs.Jackman, remembers that there was only one switchboard when she joined in 1936. Shortly afterwards a second switchboard was added and there were 106 subscribers.

In April 1939, the Bank of England moved down from London to huts in fields just outside the village of Whitchurch and all their telephone calls were handled by the Whitchurch exchange until they returned to London in May 1945.

Now the switchboard has four operators and 420 working lines. The new exchange will be equipped for 800 lines and has been designed to allow for expansion toi 2,000 lines. The new building and equipment have cost £86,000.

An exhibition, including an S.T.D. demonstration is running at Whitchurch church hall until Saturday week.

The new exchange, behind the post office will have no staff at all — its only visitors will be the engineers who do repairs and check-up.

Compiler’s note: STD = Subscriber Trunk Dialing

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 5 AUGUST 1994

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

A COUNCIL’S CANAL TRIP

David Webb writes from Holly Walk, Andover:

I notice that. According to a recent meeting of Basingstoke Borough Council leisure services committee, councillors are considering “A further canal boat trip, with their partners.

This would be all right, except that council officers have been asked to spend their time making arrangements for it, and also that: “The trip is regarded as an approved duty for the purposes of claiming travelling, subsistence and travel allowances.”

Is the funding of councillors’ pleasure trips an acceptable use of taxpayers’ money, when pensioners have their travel assistance reduced and others want for housing and heating?

The Conservatives tell us that their councils cost less, but they could cost even less without such outrageous abuses of position.

No wonder the people of Andover area voted by 50-1 against being ruled by Basingstoke Council!