ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 1 SEPTEMBER 1893

OUR WAYZGOOSE

The annual outing of the Advertiser staff, known in the trade as a wayzgoose, took place on Saturday, when advantage was taken of a special train run by Mr.Gale from Swindon to Southampton, in connection with which there was an excursion round the Isle of Wight per the “Princess Helena.” One has no need to dilate on the admirable manner in which the arrangements were made in advance by Mr.Gale, as his manner of superintending the excursions has passed into a proverb; and it is sufficient to say that although he had a large contingent from the Swindon end, and from the stations between Savernake and Weyhill, everyone was seated in comfort. Several Andoverians joined the train, and at Clatford the choir of the parish church, under the charge of the Rector and Mr.Hance, took their places in specially reserved carriages, and then we were taken on to Southampton. Embarked on board, with the Burbage Band in attendance, the sail down the Southampton Water was truly enjoyable, as the weather was all that could be desired, not too hot and not too cold. By arrangement some 70 landed at Southsea Pier, and the remainder proceeded to Ventnor, where there was a stay of some four hours, which was spent in a variety of ways. Some of the fortunate ones were able to organise special drives to Blackgang Chine; while others indulged in boating, bathing, &c. At 5 o’clock all were on board again, and the journey round the Island was continued on a sea that was almost as still as a duck-pond till reaching the Needles, where only a slight motion was felt; but enough to cause unpleasant results among some who had been dining very freely. Some excitement was caused off Hurst Castle by the stopping of the vessel to take up a pilot who had been conducting one of the Donald Currie boats down the water, as in jumping on to the steamer he slipped, and had a narrow escape of a ducking. Arrived at Southampton there was some delay owing to the non-arrival of the Southsea contingent, but eventually all arrived home without mishap shortly after 11 o’clock, having spent a thoroughly enjoyable day.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 30 AUGUST 1918

TIDWORTH

A successful tennis tournament was held at the Officer’s Club at Tidworth, in aid of the Red Cross Fund, on Saturday. The winners of the finals were Mr.Kilgour and Miss Wilbraham, while the second prize was awarded to Major Brown and Miss Firth.

Winners of sections were Mr.and Mrs.

Mawson, Mrs.Rushton and Mr.Berry, Cannon Wood and Mrs.Brett-Young. The Band of the 5th Reserve Regt. of Cavalry played during the afternoon, by kind permission of Col.

Pollock-Morris, D.S.O., and Officers of the 5th Reserve Regt. of Cavalry. Lady Evelyn Collins presented the prizes to the winning couples.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 3 SEPTEMBER 1943

THE VENEREAL DISEASES CAMPAIGN

Kingsclere and Whitchurch District Council discussed on Tuesday suggestions for helping to combat venereal diseases which they are submitting to the County Medical Officer in view of the forthcoming County campaign.

The Council considered that lectures should be given to both men and women on physiology and hygiene of sex, but that these should be given to each sex separately and by doctors of the appropriate sex. They thought that an appeal to moral decency should be put on an equal basis with stressing the dangers of the disease, pointing out that young people should realise their duty as individuals to other people in general and to the future welfare of the nation as a whole.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 30 AUGUST 1968

“ARAB VILLAGE” WINS TOP ARCHITECTURAL AWARD

Cricketers Way housing estate, Andover, has been described as “the dun-coloured Arab village” and its appearance has been frequently criticised. But the Royal Institute of British Architects takes a different view and the estate has gained one of the R.I.B.A.’s coveted architectural awards.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 3 SEPTEMBER 1993

FARMWORKER SEES UFO

UFO buffs believe a massive space ship has been sighted over Goodworth Clatford A 60-year-old farmworker say he saw a huge disc, about the size of a house, spinning above Gypsy Lane.

“I backed my jeep out of the wood and there it was in front of me about 80 feet away, swinging back and forth,” says the man, who doesn’t want to be identified.

“When it swung towards me I could see the underside which was like old silver that hadn’t been polished,” he added.

“It was a cold morning and there was a heat haze coming off the top of it.

“Then it suddenly totally disappeared.“I wasn’t frightened at all, it was just amazing, I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said.

Andover’s own unexplained phenomena investigation group AUPIN UK believes the sighting to be [a] genuine glimpse of an alien spaceship.

AUPIN president, Malcolm Terry from Enham, says the Clatfords have long been associated with strange happenings.

Mr Terry says there is ‘most definitely’ a link between the circle and last week’s strange happening.

AUPIN members are now investigating the site using dowsing rods to see if there is water nearby — according to Mr Terry spaceships often take up gallons of water from lakes and underground springs.