ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 12 OCTOBER 1894

ANDOVER TOWN COUNCIL — THE RECREATION GROUND

Councillor Chuter said they had to congratulate themselves once more on the use that had been made of the Recreation Ground. There had been 35 cricket matches played there, and considering the quantity of wet weather they had had during the season, the fact that the tennis court had been used 57 times showed that the Recreation Ground was wanted; while he thought that when they came to consider that £26 14s. 6d. had been taken, leaving only a balance of £26 to be paid out of the rates for the ground man [sic] it was a matter of congratulation to all concerned (hear, hear).

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 10 OCTOBER 1919

A DISAPPOINTMENT

Through the chaos arising from the railway strike the advertised films for the start of the week did not arrive at the Picture Hall. A car was hurriedly despatched to Salisbury to see what could be done, and a substitute was sent for “Hearts Apart,” which was billed to appear. This only arrived as the first house started off on Monday evening with a comedy and the Gazette. The title of it was “Flying from Justice,” and it was decidedly not the class selected by Mrs.Wood ordinarily; but under the circumstances it was either show it or close down, and it was hair-raising at times and a little bit bloodthirsty. Another disappointment was that the cannibal picture did not arrive; in fact this chapter, which usually comes on to us from Winchester, had not even been seen there yet. Better luck, however, next time perhaps.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 13 OCTOBER 1944

LECKFORD — LOCAL LADY’S BROADCAST

Miss Armstrong, of Leckford, was one of a group of experts who broadcast in “Country Magazine” on the B.B.C.’s Home Programme on Sunday. Miss Armstrong, who talked on a subject of which she is an authority, herb farming, is a member of the Staff of Leckford Partnership. Her references to the growing of herbs, their cultivation and their uses, must have fascinated the many thousands who listened to her voice, and at the beginning of her remarks she touched on the fact that herb farming brought an almost all year round harvest. The familiar herbs, such as parsley, thyme and sage, were mentioned, and some not so well known to the modern housewife, including rosemary, and horehound. She told her hearers that girls who wished to go in for herb cultivation would have to work very hard, and if they did not like bending their backs they should leave the work alone. She revealed one interesting fact—herb farmers should be prepared to wait for three years before they made any profits.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 10 OCTOBER 1969

TO BE NAMED AFTER ASTRONAUTS

Andover’s latest council housing estate is to be named after the three American astronauts, who made the recent successful moon landing.

The streets on the estate—at Charlton—are to be called Armstrong Rise, Aldrin Close and Collins Close. The names were approved by the Highways and Works Committee on Monday night.

RESIDENTS OF “DODGE CITY” SPLIT OVER PROPOSED COUNCIL FACE-LIFT

“Dodge City” is about to be given a face-lift which is unlikely to bring any joy to the traders of Stockbridge.

As workmen and machines this week tear up the old and prepare to modernise the village High Street the “pavement and parking” controversy continues to rage.

Main criticism of the traders is the plan to eliminate the familiar haphazard parking in the High Street.

But, while the traders howl their protests some High Street residents enthusiastically welcome the plan which, they say, is long overdue and will tidy up what one of them described as “a filthy” street.

The improvement scheme provides for a new roundabout in place of the dangerous junction near the old railway station and the resurfacing of the highway in the High Street.

But, it is the proposal to construct pavement and mark out in orderly fashion parking places on both sides of the High Street which has really upset the traders.

The pavements, they claim, are unnecessary and the plan will result in restricted parking with consequent loss of trade.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 14 OCTOBER 1994

SIR DAVID MARKING 30 YEARS AS MP

Andover’s MP, Sir David Mitchell, notches up 30 years in the House of Commons on Sunday making him a member of a small group of long-serving MPs which includes Sir Rhodes Boyson and Dir Marcus Fox, chairman of the powerful 1922 committee.

The member for North West Hampshire was expected to spend the day at his Odiham home after returning from the 40th Commonwealth Parliamentary conference in Canada, the first time the 66-year-old MP had missed the Tory Party Conference.

Sir David was elected MP for Basingstoke in the 1964 General Election and held the seat until 1983 when he captured the new, local constituency.

His ministerial career, under Mrs Thatcher, included responsibility for small businesses, in the Northern Ireland office and transport.

He was knighted after returning to the back benches in 1988.

TEN YEARS AGO — 9 OCTOBER 2009

GUILDHALL MOVE COSTS £200,000

THE decision to close the Lower Guildhall and open a new community facility in Union Street has cost Test Valley over £200,000 and could cost even more, according to Lib/Dem leader Len Gates.

Running costs for the Rendezvous and Guildhall over the past year totalled £85,000 and a further £4,000 has been spent on maintenance of the Guildhall.

Income from the two venues over the same period was less than £14,000. The council previously received just under £14,000 a year in rent from the two shops converted into the Rendezvous.

The total cost over the past year to council taxpayers is £89,000. A similar loss is expected next year. And Cllr Gates adds the capital costs of £114,000 to set up the Rendezvous.