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 9 MARCH 1860

CORREPONDENCE - DESECRATION OF THE SABBATH AND THE CEMETERY GROUND

Sir: Chance led myself and a friend near the church on Sunday afternoon last, and hearing that four bodies were to be interred, we directed our steps towards the cemetery, and walking quietly through, we were much surprised and annoyed at the shocking behaviour of the boys and children, some of whom were running and jumping over the gravestones, playing hide and seek and we even saw one remove an urn on the stone of the late Mr Phillips. As the sexton and clerk are both engaged in the church, and the police, I suppose, have no authority to interfere, there certainly should be some person whose duty it is to keep order on such occasions, and in particular last Sunday, when I should say there were 600 persons present, and I feel confident on account of the crush that many of the friends were unable to take the accustomed last look at the departed. Yours faithfully, Truth.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 10 MARCH 1899

KIMPTON – LECTURE ON THE PRAYER BOOK

On Monday night last, Miss Pringle, the very able and indefatigable agent for the Church Defence League, gave a lecture (aided by a magic lantern and slides) in the schoolroom on the Book of Common Prayer. The room was filled to overflowing with a highly delighted and appreciative audience, and well they might have been, for a more interesting, lucid and able address it is seldom the good fortune of a country audience to be favoured with. The lecture lasted about an hour, demonstrating a vast amount of learning but delivered in such clear and simple language as to be well understood by the least educated of the hearers.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 7 MARCH 1924

THE ACCIDENT TO THE COLPORTEUR

We are glad to hear that Mr J T Foreman, the esteemed colporteur for Andover and district, is making some slight recovery from his recent accident, and we wish him a speedy return to his normal health and strength. On 22 February, with his accustomed box of books on his carrier, he was cycling along the Salisbury Road towards Andover, when a motor car collided with him, and threw him from his machine, cutting his face and causing him extensive bruises. He was unable to move, but was conveyed to the Cottage Hospital for treatment, and thence to his home. We are afraid his fate will be an enforced absence from duty for some time. (Compiler’s note: A colporteur is a traveller who sells books, tracts and periodicals, usually of a religious nature.)

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 11 MARCH 1949

CORRESPONDENCE - THE MUSEUM AND THE LIBRARY

Sir: It has been noted that the museum has not been receiving the number of visitors that it should. But how can it, when the hours of opening so nearly coincide with shop hours? I was very pleased when I heard it was to re-open, as I have vivid memories of the treasures when I was a child. I have not yet, however, had a chance to visit it. There is not time after closing at 5.30, and on the town’s half day, Wednesday, the museum is closed. Considering that many other shop assistants are in this position, is rather a pity. We are also precluded from changing our library books on Wednesday afternoons. And if anyone is consumed with a thirst for knowledge on Tuesday evenings after 7 pm, he has to wait until 10 am on Thursday morning before quenching it. Could not some other arrangements be made at both of these places? Yours faithfully, A Resident.

FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 11 MARCH 1977

SIX-DAY TRADING STARTS IN TOWN

Six-day trading came to Andover this week. Woolworth’s stayed open all day on Wednesday after the local Chamber of Trade referendum voted in favour of Sunday closing only. And in April, Marks and Spencer’s, Boot’s and W H Smith’s are expected to follow suit. Some stores have always stayed open on early closing day, but for the big stores at least, the half-day on Wednesday is now gone. Mr Bill Manning, manager at Woolworth’s and an executive member of the Chamber of Trade, said that he felt it would do the town a whole lot of good. ‘I understand that it might be difficult for the small shopkeeper because of staff problems but if he does his sums right he might find he is on to a good thing. After all, we pay rates for every day of the week. I honestly feel that this is going to be good for the town and will bring people in,’ he said.

HAD YOUR PETROL CAP NICKED?

If you have had the petrol cap taken from your car in the last few weeks, Andover police have some good news for you There is a box full of these caps at the police station and if you contact the CID (Andover 4311) they will be only too pleased to give you back your property.