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

STOCKBRIDGE — TROUT FISHING

On Wednesday evening last Lord Penrhyn, a member of the Stockbridge Fishing Club and who is now staying at the Grosvenor Arms Hotel, caught an exceedingly fine trout in the Test between the Town Bridge and the Weir just below. The trout measured 2 feet 1 inch in length, with girth 14 inches, and weighed 6lbs.10ozs., and is reputed to be the largest trout ever taken by the rod from this river. We hear his lordship had a good amount of sport with the fish before he safely landed it.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 2 JULY 1915

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

Admiral Marx has been home on short leave and would be glad to hear of any Hampshire lads who would like to serve under him in the patrol service and more particularly healthy young men from his own district in the county. There are worse ways of serving the country at the present time than in patrol cruising and it offers just that spice of adventure and danger that appeals to healthy lads. Three or four going together would have every opportunity of serving in the same boat and any number up to 50 would be accepted.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 5 JULY 1940

PORTSMOUTH VISITORS FOR ANDOVER RURAL DISTRICT

More children and teachers arrived at Andover Town station on Friday and were taken to Andover Grammar School for distribution to the rural areas. The whole party consisted of 500 children and teachers from elementary schools in the Portsmouth Area.

The children walked to the school from the station and when they arrived were marshalled on the school field in groups. There was one teacher for every 15 scholars. They were given light refreshments and then had to pass through the school. Each child was medically examined, for the authorities are very strict on this matter. The children had already been examined before coming here. This time they were not given any rations as was the case on a previous occasion. This procedure has been definitely stopped. They were then conveyed to their future “homes,” where they can stay until Adolf Hitler has been defeated.

The pupils of Andover Grammar School and Itchen Secondary School had been given the day off, but some of the senior boys of Andover Grammar were there with masters and mistresses to lend a hand.

CORRESPONDENCE — WANTED BY THE L.D.V.

May I ask the inhabitants of Andover to supply the following for the use of the Andover Company L.D.V.: Bottles, with screw stoppers or patent air-tight caps; beds, mattresses and blankets. These to be delivered to the Andover Steam Laundry.

The L.D.V. is open to receive further recruits, for who arms and uniforms are now becoming available.

May I ask all inhabitants who are not engaged on any public service to follow the advice given by the Ministry of Home Security that in time of emergency the y will “stay put.” The presence on the roads of unauthorised persons handicaps the efforts of the military and those responsible for the safety of the public.—Yours sincerely, HENRY POTTER, Company Commander, Andover Company L.D.V.

FIFTY YEARS AGO —2 JULY 1965

DICK DAVIES LANDS TOP TV SPORTS JOB

Tomorrow afternoon Richard Davies, popular mine host of the Globe Hotel, Andover, takes over one of the top sporting assignments in television.

He will introduce the Independent Television programme “World of Sport” in place of genial Eamonn Andrews, who is having a three-months break.

Richard, who has been an announcer with Southern Television since 1961, was introduced to viewers last Saturday.

He has given up his job as an announcer but will continue to introduce “Sports Desk” on Southern TV on Monday evenings.

Before entering television Richard who is aged 37 and has twin sons Daniel and Peter, was a purser on luxury liners, including the Queen Mary.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO —6 JULY 1990

HOOLIGANS HIT TOWN

Andover was hit by football hooliganism when World Cup fever got out of control, leaving the town centre looking battered.

Some 40 or 50 youths descended upon the town minutes after England lost the match against West Germany.

Two windows were smashed at Waitrose, another was cracked at the Abbey National and a further window was shattered at Rack Close, after the rowdy youths started to throw objects.

Insp Alan Dawson estimated the damage to be around £1,500 and said: “They were mindless idiots who let everybody down and were a disgrace to the British people.”

Three of the group were arrested but were later released.

Across the county there were 100 incidents of public disorder, with around 120 arrests.

Nine youths were arrested in Andover town centre last Saturday night after their rowdy behaviour in Union Street alerted the attnention of the police.

After a few hours spent calming down in the cells and a police warning, the men were released singly and without charge in the early hoursn of Sunday morning.

TEN YEARS AGO — 1 JULY 2005

CYCLE PLAN RETHINK CALLED FOR

One of Andover’s most heavily used car parks could lose 17 spaces as part of a concerted bid to increase cycle use.

Around £500,000 is likely to be spent on providing cycleways through the town in the next few months as planners take Department of Health guidance on providing safe cycle routes to heart.

One of the cycleways, between London Street and Newbury Street, needs to go near the George Yard car park.

The option favoured by council officers, which would segregate the cyclists from the cars, will result in the loss of 17 spaces — although Hampshire County Council will meet the £150,000 cost of the work.

A second option, where the number of spaces is cut by only five but where cars and cyclists are mixed, is also under consideration.