ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 1 NOVEMBER 1889

BOY’S BRIGADE

It is evident that the “Andover Company” will soon be able to be enrolled and join the brigade, and if present appearances are kept up, will have noting to be ashamed of either in numbers or efficiency, when compared with the boy soldiers of other towns. At the first preliminary drill held in the Corn Exchange on Monday last, 60 smart and attentive lads fell into the ranks, and there were also present the three officers, Messrs.Talbot, Richardson, and E.A.Clarke, the Rev.J.C.Witton, hon.sec.of the Young Men’s Friendly Society, and others interested in the movement. Considering that such a large body of young soldiers found themselves shoulder to shoulder for the first time the various movements were surprisingly well done, and the attention that was paid to the dry technicalities of the “Red Book” must have been very gratifying to the instructors, Mr.Talbot and Sergt.Green. Another drill will take place at the Corn Exchange on Wednesday next at 8 o’clock.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 30 OCTOBER 1914

HELP FOR THE TEDWORTH

The officers of the R.A. Mess at Bulford have subscribed a very handsome sum towards the Tedworth Hunt, the claims of which were brought to the notice of the new comers to Salisbury Plain by Major W.V.Faber. The value of hunting to officers of the army is especially high just now as it gives them practical lessons in topography over strange ground that they would not otherwise obtain.

BELGIAN REFUGEES’ HOSTEL

We understand the Belgian refugees are expected to arrive at Andover on Tuesday next, when the House Committee hope to be prepared for a meal on their arrival and supplies for this purpose may be sent to Clare House on Monday for 2.30 to 4 o’clock. The employes of Messrs.Bloxham, Hammans, Nutley and Herbert are generously giving the sum of £5 for the hostel in lieu of their annual dinner.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 3 NOVEMBER 1939

ANDOVER — FOOLHARDY TRICKS

A resident sends us a “moan” which seems to be quite justified. He says that on three occasions on Wednesday evening he narrowly escapes falling over bicycles propped up against walls in the nearly pitch darkness, with absolutely nothing to warn him of their presence. His chief growl is that on a fourth occasion he passed somebody actually pushing a bicycle on the pavement, and instead of the machine being on the edge of the kerb the owner was against the wall and the bicycle half way across the pavement. It was only be knocking against the handlebar that the passer-by knew the cycle was there.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 30 OCTOBER 1964

THE EDITOR’S POSTBAG — WE WERE NOT TOLD — SAYS OCCUPIER OF NEW HOUSE

Mr.Bryn H.Davies, of 7 Aster Court, Floral Drive, Salisbury Road, refers to a report we published last week of the meeting of the executive of the Chamber of Trade, and says: Mr.Redwood, acting as the representative of the Chamber, was reported as saying “The people coming here seem to like living around courtyards.”

I cannot allow a remark like this to go unchallenged.

First, the sort of mind which lumps us all together with one identity as “The people coming here” is obviously a prejudiced one.

Secondly, the inference that living around a courtyard wouldn’t be good enough for him, clearly indicated the direction his prejudice takes.

As one of the council house tenants I would inform Mr.Redwood that I do not like living around a courtyard, but as the houses are built that way it would be extremely difficult to live in any other manner. This is not to say I don’t like the house; it is functional, and rentwise good value for money.

I would stress that what has offended me most is not the aesthetic quality of the building, but the opening ceremony attended by Mr.Redwood and others outside my front door, without any “by-you-leave” or consultation.

It was then that I really began to feel like a “Council house tenant,” and must confess to wishing the house fronted on a Motorway.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 3 NOVEMBER 1989

‘NO-GO’ PLAN FOR CHANTRY CENTRE

Andover’s multi-million pound shopping centre, due to be completed next Spring, will be a massive lock-up unit, closed to the public at night.

The shutters on the Chantry Centre will come down at 5.30pm each evening, except for Thursdays and Fridays when it will be locked at 8pm, and won’t reopen until 9am next morning, local traders were told this week.

The whole of the new precinct including the present Chantry Centre will be closed by gates at Tesco and Fosters Menswear.

The news bought concern from several traders in danger of losing trade before 9am and who want the opening hours extended.

Other traders say staff need access much earlier in the morning and some shops have customers who return after 5.30pm to collect heavy goods.

But the shopping centre management, Chesterton, defended the proposals.

Mr David Morris, senior surveyor said he recognised that ‘quite a few people’ wanted longer opening hours’, but added : “It is inevitable that when you have spent a great deal of money improving a shopping centre, with the highest standard of finishing, internal landscaping and fittings, you don’t want to leave it open to desecration by local vandals.”

10 YEARS AGO — 29 OCTOBER 2004

HOSPITAL PARKING FEE FIASCO

Car parking charges are to be introduced at Andover War Memorial Hospital — but the fee will be half that originally proposed for the first year.

After the first year charges will be doubled to bring them into line with those charges by the Royal Hampshire County Hospital (RHCH).

The decision made at Wednesday’s meeting of Winchester and Eastleigh’s NHS Trust board has triggered a threat of traffic chaos in surrounding streets with staff saying they will not park in the hospital car park.

There’s likely to be chaos on the site too because the Health Centre car park is exempt from the charges following a plea from the GPs.