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ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 4 APRIL 1890

THE SAVERNAKE HOUNDS

On Wednesday morning these hounds met at the White Hart, Andover, when Mr.Barnes entertained the company to a capital luncheon, served with the utmost liberality in the dining room of this well known hotel, which for years has been associated with this form of sport, and of which the capital collection of hunting pictures bear testimony. There was a fairly good muster of horsemen, among whom we noticed Mr.Dawkins (who is hunting the pack at present), Mr.Shrubb (Master of the Tedworths), Mr.T.Earle, Mt.T.Lamb, Mr.H.Stride, Mr.A.Stride, Mr.T.Berry, Mr.M.and Miss Cannon, Mr.E.C.Pain, Mr.and Mrs.Bailey (Fullerton), Mr.F.C.Ellen, Mr.W.S.Goss, Mr.Breadmore, Mr.Baily (Appleshaw), Mr.F.Bloxham, and a number of others from the neighbourhood of the hunt. After luncheon a move was made in the direction of the “Queen Charlotte,” where the stag was uncarted, and making in the direction of Cowdown headed for Wherwell Wood, into which he ran. Dislodged he ghave a capital spin towards Winchester, and then turning back was captured near Wherwell.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 2 APRIL 1915

ST.MARY BOURNE — NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROWNING

It appears that the waters of the Bourne are to be always troublesome. The latest addition to its unreasonable characteristics is almost one of tragedy. On Sunday morning a boy named Coffin; 4 years of age; was playing with other children near the Swampton Bridge, when he fell into the swiftly flowing water. His older brother made a noble attempt to rescue him, but failed. The alarm was quickly raised, but meanwhile the current was taking the child along at a great pace. Mr.Fred Wedge and Mr.Firfield managed to conquer the tide’s exploits, and after having passed under two bridges the boy was got out at the bridge near Mr.Batsford’s. He was by that time completely at the bottom and appeared quite dead, being full of water. However, we are pleased to say that with the aid of medical assistance and a deal of patience he was revived. A few more seconds and he must have been drowned

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 5 APRIL 1940

I’VE SEEN FOUR ADDERS IN A WEEK

Although they are more common in Hampshire than in most parts of the country, adders are nevertheless infrequently seen in this district. I am therefore strongly tempted to ask the age-old question beloved of writers to the newspapers—“Is this a record?”—for this last week I have seen no less than four. The first pair had been killed and hung from a stake beside the road at Wildhern, repellent even in death, but the other two were very much alive. I came across them at the churchyard in Upper Clatford, where they were basking in the sun on the top of the tomb of one George Bell. I suspect that someone had tried to kill them, for they seemed sluggish or dazed—adders usually move unpleasantly quickly—but I think they had only been stunned and there was far too much life in them for my liking. My dog did not know quite what to make of them—it was his first interview with a snake—and was alternatively aggressive and timorous. A mother who stopped with her two children and their Scottish terrier was also rather dubious. Were they really adders? Were they poisonous? Did we get many of them about here? Could they move very fast? and so on. I do not know whether there are more adders to be seen this year than usual, and should be interested to hear if anyone else has encountered them. SPINNER

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 2 APRIL 1965

CHURCH CANNOT AFFORD NEW SECONDARY SCHOOL

There will be no Church of England Secondary School in Andover. A special meeting of the Diocesan Conference at Winchester on Monday approved by a majority, a recommendation of a Working Party, set up to consider future policy regarding Church schools, that no secondary schools should be provided in Andover and Basingstoke because of the cost involved.

POLICE SEEK PUBLIC’S HELP OVER FARM FIRE BUG

Police appealed this week to members of the public to help them catch the “Dutch barn” fire raiser. Believed to be a man with a grudge against farmers, he has probably been responsible for 18 fires which have destroyed Dutch barns and their contents in the Andover-Winchester areas during the past 10 months. The total damage is now nearing the £100,000 mark.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 6 APRIL 1990

EXTRA TIME AT EASTER ‘THWARTED’

Religious grounds have thwarted bids by Andover publicans to gain extra bar hours for Good Friday bank holiday next week. Time will have to be called at 10.30pm.

The decision by Andover’s licensing justices to refuse extensions has disappointed the chairman of the local licensed victuallers association, Mr David Houghton.

In previous years the extension had been granted, he said, and the majority would have to suffer for the views of the minority.

“We recognise the date has religious significance but the extension we requested was well after any church service and the fact is 95 per cent of the population do not regard it as anything other than a well earned bank holiday.

“Our patrons want to be able to go out and enjoy themselves without being told to drink up at 10.30pm,” he said.

“We know the police always object, but up to this year, the court has felt able to take account of grass roots opinion and it is a pity our regulars will have to either cut short their drinks or go outside the district.

“We feel it is a case of the majority having to suffer for the views of the minority.”

Flicks nightclub has had to call off its ‘Sunday Club’ event on Easter Sunday because its application to licensing justices for a special license — enabling people to dance on Sunday — was also refused.

A similar application for last New Year’s Eve, which also fell on a Sunday, had been approved.

For Easter, management had already set up special promotions and made arrangements for a laser show and a radio disc jockey but they have had to be cancelled.