ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 24 AUGUST 1894

THE POOR CABMAN

An elderly cabman, named John Porter, living at Church Street, Clapham Road, appeared for the sixth time before Mr.De Rutzen in connection with various processes of the Court to enforce payment of a cab fare from a person who gave the name of M’Leod, and an address at 34, Charing Cross Mansions — The cabman’s difficulty has been the personal service of a judgement summons. He stated that after driving the defendant about for over six hours on the 1st of June and the greater part of the following day, he only obtained a shilling [£0.05] from a person who was with M’Leod. He (the complainant) was informed that M’Leod called himself a journalist and was connected with a news agency, but he had hitherto failed to find him, though he (complainant) had been all the way to Bury Hill House, Upper Clatford, Andover, and served Mrs.M’Leod, residing there, with judgement summons. She said her husband was in town. In addition to the loss of his time and his railway fare to Andover, he was 7s. [£0.35] out of pocket for court fees. M’Leod owed him £1 9s 6d. [£1.47½] originally for driving about, and as it was such a cruel case he asked for a warrant.— Mr.De Rutzen: I am sorry for you, but as I have told you before we can do nothing. We must have the defendant personally served with the judgement summons before I can deal with him. I cannot grant you a warrant, though I am disposed to help you in every way possible. — Eventually another adjournment was granted with a view of this complainant being placed in communication with the Cabdrivers’ Benevolent Association.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 22 AUGUST 1919

THE MUNICIPAL BAND

The Municipal Band again provided an enjoyable evening on the Recreation Ground on Wednesday, when they played another dance programme. A good crowd gathered on the ground, and the ring formed always appeared full of couples, and all were sorry when the final dance was played.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 25 AUGUST 1944

CORRESPONDENCE — THE HOUSING EXHIBITION

Sir, —Though even Town Councils cannot please everyone, opinions expressed at the proposed plans for Andover at the Guildhall seemed unanimously appreciated, even sceptics could only say (for instance about the long overdue bridge over the railway) “too good to be true.” The plans show boldness and vision, especially in regard to the Town lay-out.

One thing is vert certain, that whatever Andover does or does not do, competitive towns are on the move towards making themselves so attractive that our Town will by comparison become a place to avoid unless it also takes its courage in both hands and launches out on the lines suggested at the Exhibition. Every such scheme by creating employment will help to bridge the difficult time from War to Peace. Andover cannot stand aloof or ignore progress by its competitors, especially when the public can travel to and visit any town which appeals to them.

It cannot be denied but that all ratepayers will suffer or benefit to a large or small degree by the decadence or enterprise of the Town. That the Mayor, the Town Council, and the officials are alive to these and other facts is evidenced by their fostering such a hopeful Exhibition.—Yours very faithfully, WREN.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 22 AUGUST 1969

TOWN’S HIGH STREET EYESORE TO VANISH SOON?

Work is expected to start shortly on Woolworths new departmental store on the site formerly occupied by Parsons and Hart and Pontings the Chemist in High Street.

Parsons and Hart premises have been empty for 18 months; Pontings were vacated at the beginning of this year.

The condition of the buildings and the delay in granting planning permission for the store have come under fire in the past 18 months.

But, a company spokesman assured the “Advertiser” this week: “Work should start fairly soon.”

One of the main stumbling blocks to the granting of planning permission has been Hampshire county Council’s rule that shops in the town centre must not exceed their existing floor space by more than 10 per cent.

Woolworth’s originally planned to erect a store and restaurant of some 65,000 sq.ft., but the proposal was rejected by the borough planning committee.

Subsequently, the planning committee approved amended plans for a store of 37,500 sq. ft.—but no restaurant.

But when the plans went to the county council, Mr.A.D.G.Smart, county planning officer, told the borough council he was not prepared to recommend approval because Woolworth’s had asked for a 30 per cent increase on floor space.

Following prolonged discussions, agreement was reached on the size of the store and in May of this year the borough planning committee gave Woolworth’s the go-ahead.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 26 AUGUST 1994

THE ON-OFF POP CONCERT IS NOW OFF ONCE MORE!

The on-off pop concert at Charlton Leisure Centre is off again!

Organiser Terry Forbes made the decision to cancel the Bank Holiday Sunday concert on Wednesday morning when re received a ‘crazy’ request for £550 from the borough council for the music licence.

He told the ‘Andover Advertiser’ immediately he received the request: “I am very sorry but we will have to cancel, this is crazy money. All I was trying to do was to give people some entertainment during the holiday and I’ve had nothing but aggravation for the past fortnight. I had no idea all this was going to develop.”

Mr Forbes was already committed to pay for the portable toilets, generators and security at the event.

Now the organisers have a further problem — they are urgently trying to contact star attraction Georgie Fame, due to fly in from Berlin on Saturday afternoon specially for the cancelled concert.