COMPILED BY DEREK KANE

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 20 OCTOBER 1893

CORRESPONDENCE — CLERICAL TEMPER

Sir,—On Sunday last I attended the harvest thanksgiving service at Upton. This small place is a hamlet in the village of Hurstbourne Tarrant, and on the first, third and fifth Sundays in each month the Vicar of Hurstbourne Tarrant holds an afternoon service at 3 o’clock. Last Sunday was the harvest thanksgiving service, and opened with hymn, “Come, ye thankful people, come.” After the hymn the Vicar proceeded with the service, and had not gone very far when, in an abrupt manner, he turned round to the lady who was presiding at the harmonium and, in a loud voice, said, Mrs.----, I wish you would join in the service instead of looking out hymns. The lady was doing nothing more than turning the pages of the hymnbook to find the next hymn, so that she might have it ready when the second hymn was wanted, as is customary in all churches.

I, with others, consider that the conduct of this gentleman was rude in the extreme, and I share the opinion with many others that this lady was grossly and publicly insulted, and that nothing short of a public apology from this gentleman can give her redress. It must also be taken into consideration that this lady’s services on Sunday afternoons are entirely voluntary, as is well known in the neighbourhood, and such an incident as occurred on Sunday last was most painful for worshippers to witness. I am also informed that it is not long since this same gentleman actually boxed one of the chorister’s ears in the vestry of the church at Hurstbourne Tarrant, and on another chorister “attempting” to explain that this ear boxing was uncalled for, this gentleman deliberately took him by the two shoulders and by sheer force pushed him violently out of the vestry into the church, and so alarmed was a lady who was sitting in the church at this commotion that she quickly took her umbrella and left the church. Now, Sir, do you think we are “blessed” by having such an amiable pastor. Eye witnesses of such occurrences do not think so. Thanking you in anticipation for inserting my letter,—I am, Sir, yours truly, ONE OF THE CONGREGATION.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 18 OCTOBER 1918

A MODERN “CINDERELLA”

The weekly dance held every Tuesday evening at the Waverley Hall is proving a popular attraction, and provides a very enjoyable evening for those who attend.

Nicely lighted, warm, with a fine piano supplying the music, and a well prepared floor, the place provides a real “haven of refuge” from the cold and dark streets, and Mr Culling is to be congratulated on bringing the idea to working order. All the boys who attend seem to be of the military caste and of course the girls are very willing to be where those boys are; hence things run very smoothly at the Waverley Hall. On Tuesday last a “Cinderella” was arranged, but owing to several other things in the same line being on at the same time there was not quite so large a muster as might otherwise have been expected. However, a very enjoyable time was spent by those present and all were sorry when 12 o’clock arrived, and Cinderella had to vanish.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 22 OCTOBER 1943

FIVE FIRES IN ANDOVER

Five fires broke out in Andover last Sunday afternoon. Flames crackled and smoke poured out of the fire hut in the Walled Meadow, while five different stirrup-pump teams worked to put out the fires.

The Andover Rural District was holding the finals of the competition for A.R.P. Fire Teams. Each team was told that incendiary bombs had fallen, and that there was a house on fire. A man— presumably overcome by smoke— lay in the passage entrance, and the teams had to deal with this “casualty” and then tackle the fire and the practice incendiary bombs inside the hut.

The competition was won by the Shipton Bellinger team, consisting of Mr.F.G.Gerrard, Senior Fire Guard of Shipton Bellinger, and leader of the team, Mr.F.Horne, and Mr.F.J.Willis. The Penton Mewsey allwomen’s team (Mrs.L.N.Lambert, leader of the team, Mrs.Guyatt, and Mrs.E.M.B.Cook) was placed second.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 18 OCTOBER 1968

PLUSSERS PYJAMA PARTY

Andover’s 18 Plussers recently held a party that will be remembered for a long time to come. Over 40 members turned up “properly”

dressed for the occasion, which was a Twisted Pyjama Party.

Male members were sporting a fine variety of fashionable negligees, whilst the females wore pyjamas many sizes too big for them.

Chairman Roger Delling, in an off the shoulder mauve and blue floral mini nightie, was the most outrageously dressed, complete with his hair in curlers.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 22 OCTOBER 1993

OVEN READY

Panic not — there are still numerous shopping days to Christmas.

Steven Burbidge, local master baker, has decided to copy an age-old tradition followed by bakers, including his great-grandfather, many years ago. In aid of charity he will roast your turkey, chicken, goose or duck for £2 on Christmas Eve afternoon in his family’s large bread oven at the Weyhill Road business.

With a certain twisted sense of humour he has decided to give the £2 charity per bird to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and in the same breath says, with some foresight ‘No ostriches!’