ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 16 NOVEMBER 1894

CORRESPONDENCE — THE PARISH MEETING

Sir,—With respect to remarks in answer to “Goodworth Clatford” as to whether any but parochial electors can be present at Parish Meetings, will you kindly permit me to say section 2 of the Act of Parliament says:—“The Parish Meeting for a rural parish shall consist of the following persons in the Act referred to as parochial electors, and no others.” We know that the Parish Meeting will consist of the electors and no others. The House of Lords consists of Peers of the Realm and no others; the House of Commons consists of Members of Parliament and no others; a court consists of a judge and a jury, &c., and no others, and the public have a place set aside for them; but a parish meeting room will contain the Parish Meeting, and a part will be set aside therein for the public. In cases where the electors take a vote and a majority agree to exclude the public and non-electors, they can of course do so, but no individuals, such as present overseers, can take upon themselves this authority. With regard to reporters, I think you will see that they can be present unless a majority of the electors agree to exclude them, which is very unlikely in the present enlightened day; further they are not officially noticed but allowed in the House of Commons by a majority of its members.

Yours respectfully, H.BANKS.

Fox Hill Cottage, Longparish

P.S.—If there had been any idea of excluding the public from these meetings the Act would have distinctly stated it.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 14 NOVEMBER 1919

KINDNESS TO FALLEN AIRMEN

The Town Clerk has handed us the following appreciative letter from a Colonial Chaplain, regarding the care taken of soldiers’ graves in Andover cemetery. It reads:

R.A.F. Officers Mess, Dover, 30—10—19.

Dear Sir,—Your newspaper might like to have this little note: A photograph of a South Afrikander airman’s grave in Andover cemetery was recently taken, and sent to his relatives, who in a letter to the Chaplain R.A.F., Dover (Capt. the Rev.A.S.Cuthbert Harrison) say “it was consoling to see that fresh flowers were being put on the grave by some kind and sympathetic friend.” Will this “friend” kindly note the appreciation? — Yours truly A.S.CUTHBERT HARRISON, Chaplain R.A.F., Wing Educ. Officer, Dover.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 17 NOVEMBER 1944

ROOKWOOD SCHOOL

The Guildhall Assembly Room, Andover, was packed on Tuesday afternoon with scholars of Rookwood School, and parents, when the Vicar, (the Rev.A.C.Fletcher) presided, supported by Mrs.Fletcher, the Mayor (Mr.S.H.Lawes), the Mayoress (Mrs.D.Cook), and the Headmistress of the School (Miss Tanner). It was the occasion of the annual prize giving. There was a charming little ceremony when the proceedings had opened with the singing of the hymn “Jerusalem,” for two little girls stepped on to the platform and presented bouquets to the Mayoress and Mrs.Fletcher. The Headmistress was in the secret, but she was surprised herself a moment later when another of her pupils stepped up and handed her a bouquet.

The Vicar, after welcoming the Mayor, and Mayoress (the latter presented the prizes), stressed the importance of a good Christian training in the home, pointing out that the part the school had to play was to build with the materials on the solid foundation laid in the home.

The Mayor, too, emphasised the importance of home life, and pointed out that it was the young scholars of today who would be the citizens of tomorrow, and who would build the brave new world they heard so much about.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 14 NOVEMBER 1969

HEADMASTER ATTACKS THE “VULGARITY AND CRUDITY” OF TV PROGRAMMES

The “vulgarity and crudity” of some television programmes have an adverse effect on children, claimed Mr.E.Graham, headmaster of Andover County Secondary Boys’ School, on Tuesday night.

Addressing more than 400 parents, pupils, governors and guests at the annual Speech Day, he said the work of teachers was being undermined by what children saw on television.

He criticised the vulgarity, crudity, speed, sensation and ghastly clichés of modern television programmes with their hyena-like studio audiences.

“All these things build up a barrage of noise in our lives, and I think erode the essential innocence and independence of the child. We must try to defend the innocence of the child which is assailed more fiercely, and earlier, today than ever in our history.”

Mr.Graham reminded the audience that secondary modern schools have come of age and “some pretty wonderful things have happened during those years.”

Gradually, he said, children and their parents had come to realise the value of staying on at school for a fifth year.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 18 NOVEMBER 1994

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR — KEEP IT SHORT!

Cllr. Mrs Jocelyne Allfrey writes from Folly Cottage, Penton Mewsey, Andover:

This letter is short and for that I am sure you will be grateful.

Two letters written to the Andover Advertiser on 11 November were long to say the least, and quite honestly I got bored with both when halfway through.

Everyone is, of course, entitled to put forward their views in the local press, but surely these views could be expressed in a shorter and more concise manner, therefore allowing space for other correspondence. Long letters are just as tedious as long sermons; I am sure many of us, at one time or another, have had to suffer from both!