Each week the Advertiser's history writer David Borrett brings readers interesting news stories and letters from editions of the paper from years gone by.
ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 7 JUNE 1861
DESECRATION OF THE SABBATH
In spite of repeated warnings and remonstrances, the Teetotal party held another open-air meeting in the Acre on Sunday last, which was characterised by similar disorderly conduct to that which has hitherto distinguished these out-of-door demonstrations.
The appearance of the total abstinence advocates was the signal for the assembly of all the idlers of the neighbourhood, and on their attempting to address the audience a scene of riot and disturbance ensued, disgraceful alike to the sacred character of the day, and the cause which the so-called Temperance party profess to have so strongly at heart.
We will venture to assert that out of the large number gathered together in the Acre on Sunday last, not one person unassociated with the Temperance society went there with any other purpose than to oppose and obstruct the speakers, or to witness the disturbance so created; and if the teetotallers themselves are so bigoted as to be unable to see the disorders and profanity arising from their ill-advised conduct, surely it is time the civil power should interfere to prevent a recurrence of such scenes as took place on Sunday last.
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 8 JUNE 1900
LIVELY TIMES IN NEW STREET
As to the circumstances that led up to this demonstration, it appears that Holloway was accused of having expressed himself in a somewhat decided manner as more in favour of the Boers than the British in the present struggle in South Africa, and rumour had it that he made utterances reflecting discredit upon the British soldiers; also of turning his son out of doors for displaying a Union Jack.
Whether these statements were true or not, a large crowd gathered together in New Street on Tuesday and noisily marked their disapproval of Holloway’s reputed pro-Boer tendencies.
The crowd gradually increased in number, until there must have been two or three hundred there.
The police were soon upon the scene and kept order as well as they could; but eventually stones were freely used in breaking the cottage windows, and most of the panes were broken.
For a time, the utmost disorder prevailed, and considerable damage was done to the cottage.
Holloway denied the opinions attributed to him and after much threatening on the part of the crowd, the Union Jack was floated from the house, and on this loyal signal being exhibited the crowd began to disperse.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 5 JUNE 1925
FATAL FALL FROM A TRAILER
A fatal accident occurred on Tuesday on the main Romsey to Houghton Road, near Houghton Mill.
It appears that Mr G Martin, contractor of Wallop, was engaged in taking straw from Wallop to Horsebridge Station, the loads being conveyed by a tractor with a trailer attached.
When near Houghton Mill, Mr George Paiten, aged 62 of Over Wallop, who was riding on the seat provided on the front part of the trailer, fell off and the wheels of the trailer passed over his body.
The driver was unaware of the accident until his attention was drawn to it by Alfred Moss, who was employed at Bossington House, and was passing by.
The trailer was stopped and both Martin and Moss attended Mr Paiten, but he gave a deep breath and immediately expired, having received injuries that were so severe as to cause his death.
SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 8 JUNE 1950
DIGNITY, THE DONKEY AND THE DERBY
Latecomers to a ceremony at the War Memorial Hospital, Andover, on Saturday afternoon suffered a partial hold-up of an unusual kind.
A long line of dignified and highly-polished cars had already been parked in front of the building when one guest turned her car into the drive only to find her passage barred by a little cart drawn by a donkey who, in spite of the honking behind him, continued at a very leisurely pace up the drive.
He too was bound for the hospital – to collect the swill.
The gathering, the opening of a Physical Medicine Unit, had a novel beginning.
In front of the chairman’s seat was a wireless set and everyone listened to the Derby before the speeches began!
FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 9 JUNE 1978
CELEBRATION OF A DREAM COME TRUE
Twenty-five years ago, was Coronation year and St Mary Bourne has its own reasons to remember 1953 for that was when a dream came true.
In 1943, it was suggested that a village centre would be needed after WWII to supplement the parish room.
For 10 years a committee worked hard raising money and enough had been saved to think about building in 1952.
The Plough Inn closed down that year and the Village Centre Committee acquired the site.
A sizable grant from public funds was available for building costs but on conditions – one of which was the bulk of the work had to be done on a do-it-yourself basis.
Design and technical supervision was carried out by the late John Bell and the first task was to erect a pre-fabricated framework in concrete.
This presented a problem but like all problems George Innes, prime mover of the Centre concept, solved it.
He knew of an organisation called then, the International Voluntary Service for Peace, which readily sent a team of volunteers of many nationalities to the village for three weeks to erect the frame and start other building work.
This was in September 1953 and this September the Village Centre is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
June Noble is organising a series of events from Sunday 10 September to Saturday 16 September.
At present, there are suggestions for a children’s day, bingo, and a social.
There are ideas for a sponsored walk around the parish, an exhibition of old photographs of the village and its inhabitants, a tea party, a wine and cheese party, a disco for the children and a quiz with questions on those 25 years of St Mary Bourne’s long history.
Help will be needed as it was in 1953 but the task will be less arduous – no more concreting, brick or flint panels to be built and no floors to be laid.
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