Each week the Advertiser's heritage writer David Borrett brings readers interesting news stories and letters from editions of the paper from years gone by.

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 20 JANUARY 1860

BURGLARY

A burglary was committed on Sunday last, on the dwelling house of Mr Symons in the High Street. It appears probable that the robbers, who must have been acquainted with Mr Symons’ habits and the locality, watched him to church and immediately proceeded to plunder and ransack the premises. The footmarks show that the robbers entered Mr Culley’s garden in the George Yard, scaled the wall which divides it from Mr Peaty’s garden, and proceeded down the latter to the rear of the offices of this journal. They then borrowed Mr Peaty’s ladder and crossed into Mr Symons’ garden. It is evident that whoever the parties were, they were not practised housebreakers, as they had forced the door instead of picking the lock. They appear to have made a thorough investigation of the premises, carrying off everything in the shape of plate and jewellery they could find. Strange to say, they missed a watch and also a bag of money which lay on the table from which they took a candle. The police were promptly called in, but we believe no clue whatever has hitherto been found to the identity of the offenders.   

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 20 JANUARY 1899

CORRESPONDENCE – VICTORIA PARK ROADS

Sir; In your account of an interview with Mr Allen of Eastover, by a representative of the Cable, the interviewer says: ‘Mr Allen drove me through Andover with its well-kept thoroughfares.’ If Mr Allen had driven his guest through Victoria Park, Andover, the above sentence could never have been written for the road that runs in a semi-circle round Victoria Park is a disgrace – in the first place to the owners of the property that abuts the road, and in the second place to the Andover Urban District Council. If the owners do not do their duty and put the road in proper repair for the Urban District Council to take it over then the council ought to do the work and charge the owners. Considering that there are one or two members of the Andover Town Council who own land adjoining the road, I should have thought they would have brought the matter forward in council, re taking over the road, so as to show the ratepayers that they do unto themselves what they would do unto others. Yours faithfully, A RATEPAYER.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 18 JANUARY 1924

A VISIT FROM THE KID

That Jackie Coogan, the wonderful child screen actor, is a great draw was emphasised by the packed house at the Picture Hall during the first three evenings of the week, scores having to be reluctantly refused admission at some of the performances. The picture was entitled ‘Trouble’ and Jackie Coogan and his clever dog were the chief actors all through of course. Discovered by a policeman sleeping under a tub after running away from an orphanage because they would not admit his dog, he was taken back, but the place had to be broken up and the children were adopted by different people. Jackie was taken by a very kind woman whose husband afterwards went wrong and the home was very unpleasant. The man went to gaol and when he returned home he was quite a brute. The lad was given some money by a lady and gave it to his adopted mother but the man knocked her down and robbed her of it. Then the policeman arrived and a terrific fight ensued, during which the boy heaved a flower pot at the man and stunned him. There then followed a comical police court scene. Much of the comedy was in the sub-titles of the boy’s sayings as well as his funny actions. The Gazette and a short film illustrating life in Australia and advertising for men completed the programme.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 21 JANUARY 1949

CORRESPONDENCE – ‘OBSERVER’ UNDER FIRE.

Sir: As a life-long supporter of the Andover Football Club, I feel I cannot allow ‘Observer’s comments upon the recent game at Winchester to go unanswered. Firstly, my personal opinion was that no adverse criticism of any player on the Andover side that day was justified, and everyone without exception I have since discussed the matter with, is of the opinion that Isaacs, the town’s outside left, had an exceptionally good game, and to say, as ‘Observer’ does, that he was ‘off-colour’ and ‘slow in getting the ball across’ is utter rubbish. It is generally agreed among supporters that he was the fastest of the Andover forwards that day and did much towards the team’s victory. Yours faithfully, ‘E. PLURIBUS UNUM.’

FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 21 JANUARY 1977

ANDOVER THROUGH FIRST ROUND OF POPULAR RADIO QUIZ.

Andover beat Basingstoke by 10 points in the first round of the popular Radio 2 programme ‘Treble Chance Quiz’, chaired by Desmond Lynam.  The programme, recorded in the Fiesta Hall in Andover on Tuesday night, was watched by an audience of more than 100. Andover was represented by three women – Mrs Jill Bentall, a physiotherapist, of Whynot Lane; Mrs Karen Trimmer, of East Anton Farm, Andover, and Mrs Reita Monger of Lynton, Wildhern, both house wives. Mrs Trimmer is a university graduate. The Andover team triumphed by 105 points to 95 and will meet either Cirencester or Stroud in the next round.