ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 9 NOVEMBER 1894

INCREASED POSTAL FACILITIES

On and from the 12th inst. correspondence for Stockbridge posted up to 12.40 p.m. will be delivered on the same day.

THE DEATH OF THE CZAR

On Friday morning the Mayor, on hearing that the Czar of Russia had died, instructed the royal standard to be floated half-mast high on the Town Hall.

A LITTLE IMP

“My son,” said a stern father, “do you know the reason why I am going to whip you?” “Yes,” replied the hopeful, “I suppose it’s because you’re bigger than I am.”

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 7 NOVEMBER 1919

BUCK FOR THE CORPORATION

The Countess of Portsmouth has sent a buck from Hurstbourne Park for the Mayoral banquet on Monday.

ENTERTAINMENT AT THE WORKHOUSE

On the evening of Oct.30 the Leonards Concert Party, from Enham Village Centre, entertained the inmates of the Workhouse, and gave them a thoroughly good time. The performers were: Mr.Lovatt, song, “Great Red Dawn Memories”; Mrs.Cootes, songs, “Thora,” and “Sunset turns the Ocean Blue to Gold”; Mr.Ponting (of the Leonards), parody, “Old Apple Tree” and clog dance; Mr.Bailey, songs,When You come Home” and “The Lads who Fought and Won”; Miss Newman, song, Mother McChree”; Mr.Chipper, song, Give me a Cosy Corner,” and Dutch dance; Mr.Parson, song, “God send You back to Me”; Mr.Medows, song, “Corsican Maid”; Mr.Cooper, song, “Bedouin Love Song”; Messrs.Leonard (of The Leonards) and Lovatt, to a double song and patter act, “The Dandies.” “God Save the King.”

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 10 NOVEMBER 1944

ANDOVER AMBULANCE IN ITALY

Here is an interesting item of news contributed by Mrs.W.Meek, 74, Warriner Gardens, London. She writes: “It may interest you to know that my son, Sgt.P.Meek, R.E., now serving in Italy, writes home that he has seen, and still sees, the ambulance given by the Mayor and the people of Andover.” It is nice to know that the ambulance is doing good work in the thick of the fight, thus redeeming the pledge given by the representative of the Red Cross Society when he accepted it from the then Mayor, Councillor S.R.Bell.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 7 NOVEMBER 1969

BONFIRES

Guy Fawkes night came early to Andover—and the hard work of some of the town’s youngsters went up in smoke because of wanton vandalism.

Firemen were called out three times at the week-end to attend blazing bonfires in the town.

The bonfires built in the Sheep Fair and Old Down estates were burnt out and the other, on the Recreation Ground, went up inflames for the second time in four days.

Another bon ire went up in smoke prematurely on Monday night. An Andover fire crew rushed to the Walled Meadow and put out the large fire with one appliance in 30 minutes.

Weeks of work by the children of Simmonds Road & surrounding area of Ludgershall, went up in some on Sunday evening, when the mountainous bonfire they had built opposite the Central Vehicle Depot was set on fire.

Fire crews from Ludgershall and Tidworth were called to deal with the blaze which occurred after 11 p.m.

But there was happier news on Monday for soldiers from the Depot rebuilt the bonfire for Wednesday night’s celebrations.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 11 NOVEMBER 1994

POPPY SNUB ANGER

Andover Poppy Appeal organisers say they are ‘flabbergasted’ by advice given to local magistrates not to wear Remembrance Day poppies in court.

The advice came from North West Hampshire bench chairman Alan Garner who suggested in an official newsletter recently that poppies might suggest ‘bias’.

According to Mr Garner, such items as regimental ties, rotary club badges and poppies ‘could indicate a member of the bench was of a certain persuasion’ and should be avoided.

But local poppy sellers, who have sold 80,000 flowers in the run-up to Sunday’s Remembrance Day Service, branded the advice as ‘ridiculous’

“I’m flabbergasted. The poppy isn’t a political symbol at all,” said Ken Caddy Royal British Legion appeal organiser in Andover.

And war widow Mrs Queenie Reardon, of Charles Dalton Court said: “It’s ridiculous — if it wasn’t for people like my husband who gave their lives in the war we wouldn’t have any magistrates or proper courts.

“It’s a simple mark of remembrance and respect,” she added.

However, Mr Garner, the 68-year-old former headmaster of Harrow Way School in Andover, says he was merely passing on advice from the Lord Chancellor.

Compiler’s note: The Lord Chancellor at the time was the Conservative Baron Mackay of Clashfern, during some of the first premiership of John Major and through all of John Major’s second premiership.