ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 28 FEBRUARY 1890

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ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 26 FEBRUARY 1915

CORRESPONDENCE — NATIONAL EGG COLLECTION

Dear Sir,—May I ask for space in your paper for a letter. I have been asked by Mr.V.P.Jupe to assist him with his depot for national egg collection at 31, Latimer Street, Romsey, and a small committee has been formed to carry out this useful and necessary work in this district. It has for its object the collection and forwarding of fresh eggs for the use of our wounded sailors and soldiers both at the base and home hospitals. Messrs.Harrod (London) receive the eggs and undertake the distribution. The Central London Committee provide the boxes for packing, and the railway companies carry free of charge. The scheme has the approval of the War Office, and is being worked by an influential committee in London, who estimate that 200,000 fresh eggs per week are absolutely necessary. We shall be glad to hear from anyone who can help us by giving a few eggs, or collecting from others.—I remain, yours faithfully, ERNEST W.BETTS. Hon.Sec. Nerquis Tower, Romsey.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 1 MARCH 1940

ANDOVER — 768 FARTHINGS

768 farthings were collected by the members of the Odeon Mickey Mouse Club. On Saturday morning the Mayor paid a visit to the cinema and received a cheque for 16/-, the result of the collection, from Mr.L.J.Fleming, the Chief Mickey, for the money is to be devoted to Mr.Bell’s Services canteen fund. Mr.Fleming remarked how gratifying it was that the children had responded so well and the Mayor, thanking them, said that it proved that the children, like the grownups, were doing their bit for the comfort of the troops coming into the town. Mr.Bell also presented the prizes to the winners of the jumbled letters competition.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 26 FEBRUARY 1965

£4¼ MILLION SCHEME WILL MARRY OLD AND NEW

The cost of extending and remodelling Andover’s town centre will be £4,250,000.

The scheme will provide for 102 new shops of various sizes; a group of offices with a total area of 75,300 sq.ft.; 233 flats of one, two or three-bedrooms and ground level car-parking, initially, for 600 cars.

Work on the first phase of this new development — the building of 42 shops, 150 flats and 46,000 sq.ft. of office accommodation — is expected to start towards the end of next year.

It is anticipated that the entire scheme will be completed within five to six years of the starting date.

The £4,250,000 to be spent includes the cost of acquisition of land and compensation to traders A new financial agreement is being prepared between the borough and the L.C.C.to cover the cost of the scheme.

Surrounded by an intricate system of diagrams and an extremely well-prepared model, Mr.Jack Whittle explained the scheme, or as he termed it, the “marrying of the old and new parts of the town” to form a neat, compact town centre.

He explained that the architect’s task was made easier by the fall of the land away from the parish church of St.Mary to the River Anton.

As a result it has been possible to design the new buildings as a series of decks. On the lower deck would be delivery bays and storage rooms. Above them will be a deck of shops, including a square with a pool and an arcade.

On top of the shops will be offices of blocks of flats up to three storeys high. The entire shopping area will be for pedestrians only.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 2 MARCH 1990

TWO PULL OUT OF £16m REVAMPED SHOP CENTRE

Two national multiples, selling shoes and cards, have decided against taking shops in Andover’s revamped Chantry Centre.

But the letting agents say many more well-known High Street chains still want to move in.

The new Waitrose store should be trading by August and two retailers are keen to take over the large unit, which is to be split into two, when vacated by the supermarket.

National catering chains are also competing for the 1,000 square feet of central walkway cafe space.

However, it seems independent shopkeepers are being passed over in favour of High Street multiples.

The policy adopted by Chantry Centre partners, Sun Life Assurance and the borough council, is to encourage national retailers because leaseholders have to show they are capable of producing a profit which will sustain the rents required.

The centre is identified by Chestertons as an attractive proposition for shopkeepers because the scheme represents the refurbishment of an existing proven area, instead of an entirely new development.

There is also the attraction of the new multi-storey car park which provides 53 per cent of central town car parking.

TEN YEARS AGO — 25 FEBRUARY 2005

‘SAD DAY’ BUT HUNT PLEDGES TO CARRY ON

New laws banning hunting with hounds came into force on Friday but hunt supporters have pledged that the centuries old traditions and customs will not die.

At Fosbury Manor the famous Tedworth Hunt, founded in 1826, gathered the day before the law changed and the event attracted a large following on horseback and on foot including a dozen police officers.