ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 19 MAY 1893

EARLY PEAS

Mr.J.Longman, gardener to Col.Briggs, of Wolverdene, was able to pick peas on Monday last. The sort was Sutton’s American Wonder, and the gardener assures us that they were sown and grown entirely in the open, and it is therefore an exceptional instance of early cropping. Mr.C.Blake, gardener to Dr.G.V.Poore, has also gathered peas, and dug a splendid sample of walnut leafed kidneys in the garden in West Street.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 17 MAY 1918

NOTICE

Andover & District Y.M.C.A. Hut Week

MAY 19 to MAY 25.

We all know that our Soldiers are fighting the powers of evil and cruelty with magnificent courage, that they are struggling for the Freedom of the World, for our Christian ideals, for all that we love and reverence in life -fighting and suffering and dying that our dear England may be spared the unspeakable brutalities of the enemy. Shall we allow such men to be without anything that we can supply? They value the Y.M.C.A. Huts (those substitutes for the comforts and refinements of home) more than we can realise. Several more can be built if our Hut Week is a real success? Who, then, will fail to

Send as Liberal a Donation as Possible

To Mr.K.Glover, Hon.Treas., London City and Midland Bank, Andover; or to

Support the Attractive Entertainments Arranged

To Secure the Necessary Funds.

PROGRAMME FOR THE WEEK:

Sunday, May 19—Special Collections in Churches, &c.

Monday, May 20—GRAND MILITARY DISPLAY in the Walled Meadow, Andover, 2.30 p.m. Entrance, Eastfield Road (near Drill Hall). Cycle Stand provided.

Tuesday, May 21—Dance in the Town Hall, Andover, 6.15 to 10.15 p.m.

Wednesday, May 22—BASEBALL MATCH in the Walled Meadow Between Teams from the Hollom Down and Chattis Hill Aerodromes at 3 o’clock and DANCES by North American Indians in Native Costume. Mr.C.Grace’s GRAND CONCERT in the Drill Hall, Andover, at 7 p.m.

Thursday, May 23—Entertainment by the John Rowlands Concert Party in the Andover Hut for Soldiers and Helpers at the Hut only, 7 to 9 p.m.

Friday, May 24 (Empire Day)—AUCTION SALE in the Market Place at 3 o’clock. Musical Tea at the Town Hall, 3 to 6 o’clock. All Children in the Borough are invited to attend at 2.15 at the bottom of the High Street. Mr.G.R.Chapman will speak on Empire Day, and Prizes will be presented for Essays, &c. The Band of the 5th Reserve Cavalry Regiment in the Market Place. The entire proceeds of the 8.25 House at the Picture Hall have been kindly promised for the Funds.

FLAG DAY. Saturday, May 25—Open Tennis Tournament at “Westfield,” “Mayfield,” “Winterdyne,” and “Highfield” Courts, commencing at 1.30 p.m. Grand Entertainment by the John Rowlands Concert Party in the Town Hall, at 7.30 p.m.

A Lady has very kindly promised to operate a BARREL ORGAN during the week, and we have no doubt that the funds will benefit considerably by her efforts, especially as we now seldom hear the merry strains for which most of us have a (frequently unacknowledged) partiality.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 21 MAY 1943

LITCHFIELD, DUNLEY & WOODCOTT HOME GUARD

On Sunday, to celebrate the third anniversary of the Home Guard, the Litchfield, Dunley and Woodcott Platoon arranged a ceremonial parade and display of weapons in the three villages from which they are recruited. The Platoon paraded at Litchfield and marched to Dunley and Woodcott, and were inspected in each village by Mr.c.Carey Druce, Sir Alfred Herbert, K.B.E., and the Hon.Mrs.U.Nicholson respectively, all of whom expressed their appreciation of the excellent turn-out, and of the opportunity they had had of inspecting that arms with which the Home Guard are now equipped. The afternoon came to a suitable end at Platoon Headquarters, where Mrs.Clacy, wife of the Platoon Commander, Lieut.C.A.Clacy, assisted by Mrs.Sutherst, Mrs.Brewer and Mrs.Fry, had arranged a most enjoyable and much-needed tea! The proceedings were greatly assisted by the Band of the A.T.C., No.1213 (Andover) Squadron (by kind permission of Flt.-Lieut.Tulley).

IFTY YEARS AGO — 17 MAY 1968

GENEROUS OFFER BY ANDOVER GARAGE

It has been confirmed that band leader Kenny Ball with his Jazzmen will be visiting Andover during carnival week.

The band has been booked by Mr.J.R.Ball, of Weyhill Motors, who is Kenny’s first cousin.

They will be playing at a dance in the Drill Hall on Thursday, 11 July.

Mr.Ball (the Andover one) told the “Advertiser” that he is a keen fan of Kenny’s [sic] and tries to listen to him playing as often as possible.

Admission to the dance in the Drill Hall will be limited to 350, so it is wise to book well in advance.

The band’s expenses will be paid by Weyhill Motors — normally Kenny charges £400 for an appearance but first cousins are allowed concessions and £250 will be the sum charged.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 21 MAY 1993

LOCAL HOUSING NEEDS A HUGE CASH INJECTION

Council housing in Test Valley needs £12 million to cope with the need in the area.

A recent housing committee meeting at Beech Hurst heard how local housing associations asked for £12 million from the Government’s Housing Corporation but were offered only £736,000.

At the moment there are 2,788 families on Test Valley’s waiting list.

An extra £400,000, split between a housing scheme at Winton School and one in Romsey, has been given by Test Valley from its local authority housing Association grant.

Housing Corporation money has also been used to buy 30 houses in Andover by the Swaythling Housing Society.