ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 23 MAY 1890

NOTICE

THE Undersigned, being a Committee representative of the TEDWORTH HUNT, ANDOVER BOARD OF GUARDIANS and HIGHWAY BOARD, having been formed to solicit and receive Subscriptions towards a PRESENT to THOMAS LAMB, Esq., on his approaching Marriage, in testimony of the excellent services rendered by him for many years past as Secretary to the Hunt and Clerk to the above-mentioned Boards, it is requested that all Persons desirous of Subscribing thereto will forthwith pay same to either Mr.S.H.Allen, Eastover, Andover; Mr.Thos.Baily, Thruxton, Andover; Mr.James Haines, East Wick, Marlborough; or the “Lamb Fund” at the Capital and Counties Bank, Limited (Andover Branch) LORD ARTHUR WELLESLEY.

C.FOYLE RANDOLPH.

W.H.FOWLE.

C.P.SHRUBB, M.F.H.

CAPTAIN F.SUTTON.

S.H.ALLEN.

T.BAILY.

J.HAINES.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO —21 MAY 1915

TOPPED

On Monday evening one of the mechanical transport columns stabled in the High Street for the night, and townsfolk about were much interested in the motor kitchen, from which the men were served with hot supper. On Tuesday a pontoon section passed through, and in turning out from the side of the road to the middle one of the lorries topped the lamppost outside Waterloo House, taking the lantern off clean. Our lamp posts seem to be in the way of the military, for this is the third or fourth victim since the war commenced. In the old days our fathers fixed their lamps to the buildings high out of reach of damage by passing loads of straw, but the present generation likes the light to be nearer their heads.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 24 MAY 1940

CARNIVAL HAS BEEN ABANDONED

The Carnival Committee met on Monday night and decided that this year’s Carnival must be cancelled. In view of the general trend of the war, it was felt it would be unwise to attempt to hold it, but Sectional Chairmen, if they so desire, can organise small events between now and the end of August.

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 21 MAY 1965

SECTION OF SPINE ROAD NOW IN USE

People travelling to and from Whitchurch last night found they had to use a new route when the section of the road from the Andover County Secondary Girls’ School to the Queen Charlotte cross-roads at Picket Twenty became a cul-de-sac under the town’s new road plan.

Drivers from Andover found themselves diverted on to a new road at the school, which took them to the top of Vigo Road, by the private housing estate known as Granada Place, and swinging on to the new spine road.

This took them to the former Queen Charlotte crossroads and thence on to the Whitchurch road again.

Vehicles from Whitchurch are using the same route in the opposite direction.

The opening of this section will be a boon to through motorists now that Andover is approaching the summer season.

Motorists using the new stretch opened last night are warned to take care as there is still a great deal of work going on alongside the new road.

The police are particularly concerned that young children in the area should be told that the road is opened and being used by heavy vehicles.

While the road has been constructed children have been playing on it and more recently have been riding their tricycles and cycles along it and using it as a general playground.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 25 MAY 1990

COUNTRY HERO COMES TO THE RESCUE OF THE REBELS

Nashville’s Grand Ole Oprey star, George Hamilton IV, voted top male singer by his British fans, has come to the aid of Andover Rebels country and western club.

The Rebels, who lost their Weyhill home in a mystery blaze last month, are still buzzing with the excitement of the night their hero performed for them , for free, in a benefit concert at Winton School.

George, honorary president of the British County Music Association, was top of the bill before a hall packed with more than 300 local fans.

In an interview with the ‘Andover Advertiser’ at the Meadow Way home of Rebels’ entertainment secretary, Mrs Lyndsay Patterson, George told how he became attached to Andover Rebels. “I’d been to the Rebels Weyhill home last February when I came to see my son (George Hamilton V), play here and everybody was nice to us all. Lyndsay and her husband Gordon rolled out the red carpet for us here.

“When the hut was destroyed Nashville Fever (one of Britain’s top bands who also played at the Winton concert) called my son and told him about the problem and that Nashville Fever were planning a fund-raising night.”

George jumped at the chance and gave a 45 minute show at Winton School — later described by a London radio presenter as ‘The best show I’ve seen in 20 years’.

George is currently half way through a big tour of Britain, with ‘The Fabulous Hillsiders’ and ‘The Two Hearts’ — Tammy Cline and Little Ginny, who were also enjoying breakfast with George’s band at the Patterson’s Despite a temporary power cut half way through the show, everybody had a great time, he said.

“They seemed so happy and everyone was dancing. It went down very well. It always seems better when you’re performing for charity because you aren’t under contract. You enjoy it more and you work harder.

What do the Pattersons’ neighbours make of all stars coming and going next door?: “They aren’t really into country music, but they get used to all the buses rolling up outside.”