Back Through the Pages: Advertisers from years gone by

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 1859

PROVIDENT HABITS

An amusing and popular lecture on the importance of Life Insurance will be delivered in the Town Hall, Andover, on Monday evening, 26 September 1859 by Jabez Inwards of the British Equitable Assurance Company, at 8 o’clock. The admission being free, all who hold any interest in others’ welfare and their own, should attend. Married men, old or young, especially are invited, and none who are thoughtful or intelligent should stay away. The attention of wives and daughters is earnestly solicited, as information on a matter so mainly associated with their comforts should be carefully sought by them. In short, Life Assurance is beneficial to all. Come early as the lecturer will be ready at 8 o’clock and feels pleasure in addressing a full room. Children are not wanted – the subject has no interest for them.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 1898

FOOTBALL

The Andover club has a very strong programme of fixtures to get through during the season, and the Andover public should see some good football in their midst. The town club has entered the Southern League, the Salisbury League, the May League and the English FA Cup. Truly a big order, but the Andover committee apparently believes that winning matches is not the only consideration; but incline to the opinion that if their members are to develop into good footballers they must play against good football teams. Of course, this applies particularly to the Southern League, in which the Andover club has entered with the primary object of bringing good football teams into the town, and it is hoped the public will generously support them in their endeavours. (Compiler’s note: unfortunately, Andover finished bottom in the Southern League and were knocked out in the first round of the English FA Cup but did win the May League.)

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 1923

UPS AND DOWNS

Last week the Town Council repaired and coated the High Street, and on Friday visitors to the market were unanimous as to the improvement that had been effected. This week the upper portion is being dug up again in connection with the telephone extension and improvement. By the time it has been put right again, probably water, gas, or sewers will require attention. London set the fashion years ago of pulling up the road as soon as it had been re-made and it has practically become a recognised custom in the British Isles. In Ireland, they wait until everybody concerned with property underneath the road has finished and they save thus the expense of making up their roads in urban districts.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 1948

THE WOLVERDENE CLUB

Arrangements are now well in hand for the opening on Saturday 2 October of the Andover Home Guard Club, Wolverdene. This club, which for the past three years has been undergoing interior and exterior decorations, is nearing completion, and when the final touches have been put to it, and the final pieces of equipment installed in the course of the next few days, it is certain to rank as not only the finest club in Andover, but one of the best in southern England. During the War, when the Home Guard was first formed, a fund was set up to receive sums of money which would go to help the men or dependents of men of the Home Guard who were wounded if Britain was invaded. As we now know, the contemplated invasion did not take place, and with the funds which had been raised as a result of dances and other social events it was decided to secure premises and open a club, not only for ex-members of the Home Guard, but also for ex-servicemen, serving members of the Forces or with Civil Defence services during the period of hostilities. That decision was made three years ago, and since then a small number of men, but with a lot of enthusiasm, have put their hearts and souls into the construction of various buildings and the decoration of the house which was secured as the club premises. Now their task is almost finished, and when members visit, they will be amazed at the ideas and the comforts in this ultra-modern club. Lavishly decorated cocktail bars, lounges, billiard rooms, music room, rifle range and bowling alley are equipped with inter-communication telephones and the latest broadcasting apparatus, while heated air is mechanically pumped throughout the entire building.

FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 1976

HIGHER TAXI FARES

Taxi fares are to be increased early next year. Test Valley Transportation Sub-committee agreed on Tuesday night that the fare for a journey up to a mile should be increased from 29p to 35p. And after the first mile, the charge will be 5p for a quarter of a mile instead of the present 3p for a sixth of a mile. The increases were opposed by Cllr G Going, who thought they were too high. ‘I agree the fares at present are too low, but the figures proposed are too generous.’ He suggested that the fare should be 33p instead of 35p. He was supported by Cllr T Cave-Browne-Cave who pointed out that fares in Salisbury had just gone up to 30p. However, the sub-committee was told that Romsey taxi proprietors are already charging the higher rates proposed and that therefore the new rates would come into force in Andover from 1 February next year.