ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 28 JUNE 1889

NOTICE — ANDOVER COTTAGE HOSPITAL
NOTICE is hereby given, that the hospital will be CLOSED to Patients from MONDAY NEXT, the 1st of July, for 6 weeks (until Monday, August 12) for the purpose of Cleaning, Whitewashing, &c.
By order of the Committee,
ED.CLARKE, Hon. Sec.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 26 JUNE 1914

(Second Edition) THE PRIME MINISTER AT ANDOVER
It leaked out at a little before 10.30 this morning the Prime Minister would alight at Andover Junction by the 10.38 train for Netheravon. Local Liberals who heard the news were soon at the station to await the coming of their great leader. Loud cheers were raised when he and his daughter and friends came through the waiting room. Outside Mr.B.B.Pond (chairman of the local Liberal Association) and Mr.Roland Kendall (organising secretary of the West Hants Liberal Association) had the honour of shaking hands with the Premier, and entered into a brief conversation. The company gave loud cheers as he left.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 30 JUNE 1939

ADVERTISEMENT — HOLIDAYS IN BELGIUM
NEW SERVICE TO OSTEND
DIRECT FROM TOWER OF LONDON PIER
Every SAT 8.40 a.m. & 1.15 p.m.
Also from FENCHURCH ST.STATION
10.55 p.m. every FRIDAY for midnight sailing from TILBURY (no sleeping berths)
SHORT EXCURSION
Out Friday night or Sat. Returning Sunday (no passports) 22/6 return
LONG WEEKEND returning Monday (no passports) 27/6 return
PERIOD RETURN FARE passports required 30/-
RETURN SAILINGS from OSTEND
EVERY SAT. SUN. And MON.
For INCLUSIVE HOTEL BOOKINGS AND TOURS
Apply G.S.N.CO.Ltd. 15 Trinity Sq. E.C.3.
ROYAL 3200.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 26 JUNE 1964

FIREBUG: EIGHTH BARN GOES UP IN FLAMES
A firebug attracted to isolated Dutch barns filled with hay or straw is being sought by detectives at Andover and Winchester. Since the beginning of the month no less than eight barns within the Andover — Winchester area have been deliberately set on fire and the total damage is reckoned at over £10,000 to date.
The fires follow a consistent pattern,
Only Dutch barns are attacked.
Most of them are just off or beside a main road. (This enables the fire-raiser to make a quick getaway and gives him a chance to mingle with the traffic on a main road. Most of these roads to in fact carry a fairly heavy volume of traffic late at night.)
All are within a 12-mile radius of Winchester.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 30 JUNE 1989

TOWN CENTRE REVAMP GETS UNDER WAY
Work on Andover’s £13 million facelift for the Chantry Centre has now started in the old Chantry Way and contractors, Taylor Woodrow, have apologised to shoppers for the disruption.
Out go canopies and flower beds and in comes new drainage as well as concrete foundations for steelwork to support the new glass canopy.
Project manager, Michael Cocke, says: “If the initial work in the malls seems a bit messy and disjointed please bear with us.
“It will all start to take shape in a few months when the steelwork erection stats and you will be able to see how it is going to look in the future.”
Some work will be carried out in the evenings after existing shops close — if the construction firm feels the disruption would be unacceptable, or for safety reasons..
Isolated hoardings in the present Chantry Way may mean short detours to get to shops but access to every store will be maintained during normal trading hours.

TEN YEARS AGO — 25 JUNE 2004

BILLION TO ONE ‘MIRACLE’ CALVES
Four identical ‘miracle’ calves have arrived at Laverstoke Park — the organic farm owned by former Formula One world racing champion Jody Scheckter.
It is estimated that the odds of producing four identical calves are a billion to one — and the fact that they have all survived has astounded vets.
All four arrived at their new home after being collected from Norfolk farmer Geoff Brand.
Laverstoke farmer manager Ralph Hardy, who has 25 years of farming experience, said: “It is quite incredible that four identical calves have survived and are healthy.
“It is certainly nothing I have ever experienced in my farming career.
“They are settling in well and are quite feisty. I certainly can’t tell them apart.”
Jody Scheckter said: “I read an article about the quads in Farmer’s Weekly and thought I would love to have them at Laverstoke.
“Our aim is to produce the best tasting and healthiest food and I was sure we could learn by observing four identical animals.”