Back Through the Pages: Andover Advertiser stories

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 8 JUNE 1860

ANIMAL LONGEVITY

The town clerk, Mr Harry Footner, has lost his well-known brown pony which died last week, at the advanced age of 34 years, after being in his possession upwards of 20 years. The same gentleman has now living three other horses whose united ages exceed 100 years; also, a sheep of 15 and a dove of 18 years of age.

FURIOUS DRIVING

George Archer, a well-known resident of the town, was summoned by Superintendent Wedge, for furiously driving his horse in the parish of Appleshaw, on the 27 May last. The defendant denied the offence. Henry Hayward deposed: I am an innkeeper and live at Appleshaw. I saw the defendant in the street at Appleshaw with a horse and cart. He went up the street and stopped by the Iron Pear Tree inn, and then crossed and re-crossed the street some dozen times and then came down the street as hard as ever the horse could come, and drove up to my door where there was a crowd of people. I went out and said I would summon him and ordered him off the premises, when he became very abusive and threatened to split my head. He then went off at full speed. The horse appeared greatly distressed and the defendant beat it several times very hard when it was going as fast as it could. The defendant was fined £1 plus costs which he objected to paying but was informed in the event of non-payment he would be committed to Winchester gaol for 21 days with hard labour, after which he paid up.  

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 8 JUNE 1899

OLD AGE PENSIONS

It appears we were slightly in error as to the age at which Mr Alfred Butterworth’s pension scheme in connection with his employees commences. The old age pension will be given to all men and women who have worked for him for 21 years, on their attaining the age of 65 years. They can, if able keep on work and be paid according to their worth, or they can obtain situations elsewhere and the pensions will still be paid.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 6 JUNE 1924

CORRESPONDENCE: PETS AND GAME

Sir: I regret that it should be necessary to draw attention, through the medium of your paper, to gross acts of illegality, which are at present in this neighbourhood. I refer to trapping above ground and also to throwing poisoned food about. To my knowledge, in one small village alone, five cats have disappeared and two valuable dogs have been poisoned during the last few days, and I hear of the like in other villages around. I cannot believe that landowners and lessees of shootings can be aware of what is being done and feel sure they would be the first to disapprove of these practices by their keepers, for I cannot imagine anything more likely to foster the class hatred which is being so strongly preached by the Communists and Bolshevics as the loss of our pets through the actions of complete strangers who wish shoot a few more head of game. It is a very short-sighted policy for who, having lost a well-loved cat or dog, would pass a partridge’s or pheasant’s nest without putting a foot on it. Yours faithfully, FAIR PLAY

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 10 JUNE 1949

BOROUGH OF ANDOVER WAR MEMORIAL

In connection with the commemoration of the Second World War, the mayor and corporation, in conjunction with the Ex-Servicemen’s Association, are anxious to collect the names of those who fell in the war, i.e., all those whose homes were in the borough of Andover and whose death was a direct consequence of their war service. Relatives, friends and members of the public are invited to submit the details, together with their own, on a piece of paper and to place the same in one of the ballot boxes at the Guildhall, Beech Hurst or the Municipal Offices in Bridge Street or to send particulars on a postcard to the British Legion, Savoy Court, London. E J O Gardiner, Town Clerk.

FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 10 JUNE 1977

TAUGHT AT SAME SCHOOL FOR FORTY YEARS

Norman Gate School, New Street, Andover, where Miss Dine taught from 1938-1966 (Image: Contributed) Miss Kathleen Dine retires at the end of the summer term after 39 years as a teacher at the same Andover school. Miss Dine came to the town in 1938 to accept a teaching post at the former New Street school, later Norman Gate and now Balksbury. She was born in Portland, Dorset and attended Weymouth Grammar School and later gained a BA degree at University College, Southampton. At Andover, she served under just two head teachers: Miss Etheridge and Mr Bernard Scarborough. She well remembers her time at New Street with classes of over 40 children. During the war, it was designated a rest centre and all the cloakrooms were piled high with blankets, while the windows were criss-crossed with tape. Children came and went from Southampton schools whenever it was bombed. The school was re-named Norman Gate in 1955 and in 1966 it transferred to a new school off Floral Way. Miss Dine has no time for ‘do as you please’ teaching methods. Although children have considerably more freedom in the classroom than formerly, you must still have discipline, she says.