Back Through the Pages

Middle row (l to r): L Smith, CC Smith, H Cooper, L Keel, A Lewington, G Hinsley, G Aldridge and K Collins.

Front row (l to r): Mrs M Futcher, H Futcher (Deputy Head Warden), B Charlton MBE JP (Chief Warden), A Spencer (Head Warden), J Beaven (Deputy Chief Warden), CJ King (Senior Warden) and Miss M Hopgood.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO —21 FEBRUARY 1890

COUNTY BENCH.—This Day. Before Col.Harmar

A FOREIGNER IN TROUBLE

A Frenchman, who gave no name, and could not be made to understand what was said to him, was in custody charges with begging at Wherwell on the 20th.—He called at the house of P.C.Gregory, and there in English asked for bread. The officer followed him into the village and saw him call at several houses, upon which he took him into custody, when he found a quantity of food on him, several French coins and 3s.11d.in English money; while under his vest behind was a load carbine, the charge of which had been extracted by Mr.Chamberlain, gunsmith. He was remanded till Friday next.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 19 FEBRUARY 1915

INTERESTING MARK ALL

Mark All, the veteran pedestrian, came into Andover on another visit on Saturday evening between 6 and 7 o’clock, and his usually interesting talk was flavoured with tit bits caused by the war. Mark is in his 87th year, and on the occasion of his latest call he was wearing his 102nd pair of tramping boots, his 14th suit, and his 12th overcoat, while the number of shirts and socks he has worn since he started his peregrinations, is incalculable. There is no mistake that Mark wears well, and if other people indulged more in walking as a recreation, there would be less illness about. On account of a motor car accident which hung him up for a considerable time, Mark told us he lost the £200, which was to have been his had he completed his 200,000 miles walk a fortnight earlier. Nothing daunted he has started on another walk, a shorter one this time. On Aug.6, 1900, Mark All left Carmelite House, in Fleet Street, to walk 200,000 miles, and he gave the undertaking to tour Europe, Asia, Africa, America and Australia. He visited the chief towns of each country five times, and when he came to the British Isles, he called at every town where a newspaper was published, 14 times, and had free insertions about his visits. This journey which was a fortnight overdone, he completed on Dec.20, 1914. Throughout this 14 years, our champion had some adventures of a startling character. It is rather significant now that we are at war with Germany, that when Mark called on the Kaiser at Potsdam, he was received kindly but with a certain amount of reserve. Emperor William said, “I will tell you what I think of you, you are an old fool like the rest of your countrymen.” “Probably there are fools to be found in every country, your Majesty,” retorted Mark, “I don’t think all my countrymen are fools.” “I do,” exclaimed the Kaiser, “and I mean to take the starch out of them before long.”

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 23 FEBRUARY 1940

NOTICE DEATH IN THE DARK

“The driver just didn’t see him in the black-out!”

That is the cause of hundreds of accidents every week. Nearly 1,200 road deaths in one month alone. Remember, there will be danger on your way home tonight. Cross, when you can, at traffic lights. Look both ways before stepping off the pavement. And when you are sure it is safe to start across the road, throw the light of your torch down on to your feet so that drivers can see you are there.

LOOK OUT IN THE BLACKOUT!

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 19 FEBRUARY 1965

“HAIRCUT!” (free)

Some apprentices at Taskers of Andover (1932) Ltd. are having their hair cut—and the man footing the bill is the personnel manager Perturbed that the long locks of some of the lads might be a danger near machinery, Mr.Vincent told them on Wednesday that if any of them would get their hair cut he would pay for the “short back and sides.” By yesterday morning six had taken him up on his offer.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 23 FEBRUARY 1990

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