ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 31 OCTOBER 1862
UNFOUNDED CHARGE
A widow woman named House, who for many years had borne a good character for industry and honesty, and who is about 60 years of age, was on Monday night given into custody by Mrs Layton, charged with stealing a purse containing a five-pound note, two sovereigns and one pound in silver.
Although there was not a shadow of evidence against her except that she was in the house that day, she was locked up all night, and in the morning was brought up at the office of the Town Clerk.
There it was given in evidence that the purse had been found in Mrs Layton's house, and she was at once discharged having been locked up for 15 hours.
JOHN FORD
We regret to announce this week the death of Mr John Ford, the late park keeper to the Earl of Portsmouth, and a well-known character in the neighbourhood.
In his younger days, Mr Ford was celebrated for his immense personal strength, for his abilities as a cricketer and for his precision with the fowling piece.
He was nearly 6ft 3ins in height and a few years ago weighed 24 stone.
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 1 NOVEMBER 1901
ENHAM – AN ENJOYABLE GATHERING
On Saturday evening last, Mrs Earle entertained all the labourers and employees on the Enham estate, with their wives and mothers, in her reading room.
About 120 sat down to a substantial supper of roast beef and other good things, which were thoroughly appreciated.
After supper, as Mrs Earle's family is now so scattered, a musical programme was carried out most successfully, Mr Wear and others entertaining the company with several songs in character.
The programme commenced with a pianoforte solo by Miss Earle and included several songs by Mr Walter Wear and Mr Millest.
Mr Atherton, who presided at the piano, gave some very amusing musical sketches.
During the interval in the programme, Mrs and Miss Earle distributed tobacco and sweets to the men and women, and all present spent a most enjoyable evening and showed how thoroughly they appreciated Mrs Earle's kindness.
We understand on the previous Saturday, Mrs Earle gave a tea at the reading room to all the children attending Smannell school, when about 100 sat down.
THE LATE CRIMEA VETERAN
A correction is needed to last week's inquest report on the late Mr Ringer which suggested that the deceased had been for a time an inmate of the workhouse, but left on someone being found to take care of him in a private house.
In fact, Mr Ringer was living at his own address in Victoria Park when Dr Farr attended him in the summer and advised his removal to the workhouse as it was impossible to cure him in a private house.
As soon as he was well, he returned to his own residence in Victoria Park.
There was never an occasion otherwise for him to be in the workhouse, as he was in receipt of an annuity, besides his handsome pension of fourpence a day.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 29 OCTOBER 1926
GOLDEN WEDDING
Two well-known inhabitants of Andover this week celebrated their golden wedding, namely, Mr and Mrs George Blake of 48 Eastfield Road.
They were married at the Congregational church, Andover, on October 26, 1876, by the Rev Edward Walker and are both lifelong residents of this town, Mrs Blake having lived in the same house for over 70 years, which constitutes a record.
Mr Blake, who is in the employ of Messrs Dowling and Sherwood, the provisions merchants in Bridge Street, has been in this position for over 50 years, which is also a record of long service.
He has taken a great interest in Oddfellowship, having been a member of the Lion and Oak Lodge for 51 years, and filled the office of grand master no less than seven times.
The celebration took place on Tuesday evening, when Mr and Mrs Blake entertained a large party of family and friends, including two sons, two daughters and nine grandchildren, and received numerous telegrams and presents.
SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 19 OCTOBER 1951
TRAINING ANDOVER'S FUTURE CHESS PLAYERS
Brightest hope for the future of chess in the town are the 40-odd pupils of Andover Grammar School who are being instructed in the rudiments of the game during the evening.
The new secretary of the Andover Chess Club, Mr William Dreghorn, was speaking of this at the club's AGM recently, after the chairman, Mr Archie Dance, had traced the history of chess in Andover through 62 years.
They were being taught by Mr Pennell, from London, one of the country's leading instructors in chess, whose services had been obtained by the kind help of Mrs J Spedan-Lewis.
First event of the season was a recent inter-county contest against Surrey when five Andover players (Messrs A S Dance, W Dreghorn, M Diffey, with pupils Sansom and King) went to Southsea to take part, though as expected they lost 39 points to 11, against a strong team.
Mr Dance remarked that the Andover club's first meeting was in 1889, and the town had a strong team for many years.
He had himself played club and county chess for some 47 years and was still as keen as ever.
The late Mr Edmund Parsons had been a strong supporter of the club for many years and was one of the best county players.
NO TOBACCO FOR THE OLD FOLK
Mr George Bliss, of St John's Hospital in Junction Road, Andover, a local artist, wrote to the Advertiser this week to report the ending of the tobacco supply to old people at the home.
'We all here are feeling very sad that the council is so hard up that it has stopped us having 1oz of tobacco each week.'
It is only fair to point out that it is not the borough council who supplies the tobacco but it is Hampshire County Council who pays for it out of its funds.
In the minutes of that council's Education Committee this week, it states that the tobacco has been stopped because only a few patients at the home benefited from it; instead a comforts fund which will give an all-round contribution has been started.
Incidentally, the patients at St John's do receive a regular supply of tobacco each month from the Mayor's Fund.
FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 2 NOVEMBER 1979
MARTIN WILL SUPPLY A TOPPER AND TAILS
On 30 September, Moss Bros discontinued all dress hire agencies throughout the United Kingdom.
Now this service is only available from Moss Bros direct.
However, Andover and nearby towns have an alternative source for hiring black and grey morning suits and dinner jacket suits.
Martin Loveridge in Andover's upper High Street, has an immaculate range of dress hire stock in all sizes.
This service is backed by a large stock of accessories to complement all hirings and the charges are a third less than those of the current Moss Bros hire costs.
Of course, another advantage of the Martin Loveridge hire service is that there are no carriage charges.
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