Back Through the Pages of the Advertiser by David Borrett

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 17 AUGUST 1860

TEETOTALISM

There is a paltry feud going on between some professors of teetotal principles who persevere in selecting the public market-place for their meetings, and a number of other people who object to such exhibitions. The opposition of the parties lately caused a disgraceful disturbance, and rotten eggs seem to have been used in order to stop the mouths of the local temperance orators. A summons was the consequence and one party got fined a small amount for an assault. It appears the abstainers have a room of their own where they can meet, and by keeping there will probably escape future annoyance and save the public peace from being continually disturbed by the congregation of idle persons which is always attracted by their holding forths. On Tuesday last, some of the members of the Total Abstinence Society again attempted to address the public in front of the Market Hall, but were rudely interrupted and compelled to desist. It is to be hoped that they will have some respect for themselves - even if their opponents have not - and discontinue a course of proceedings which cannot benefit the society in the opinion of any respectable person. There must be two parties in such a case as this, to cause a public disturbance and nuisance, and if they return to their own room they may depend that their disreputable opponents will soon find it a tiresome game to have no one to insult and annoy, and the town will once more return to its normally peaceful atmosphere.

ANDOVER RIFLE VOLUNTEERS

The Rifle Volunteers are making very creditable progress, working hard in order to make as good an appearance as possible at the coming review of the corps of the county by Lord William Paulet. Drill is carried on daily.

THE TEDWORTH HOUNDS

Meet of the Tedworth Hounds in the market place. (Image: A Halstead, Amesbury) The annual meeting of the friends and supporters of the Tedworth Hounds will be held at the Star and Garter hotel, Andover, in the month of October next. The entry of young hounds this year is one of the best that has taken place for many years, and the pack is now in first-rate order and condition.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 18 AUGUST 1899

FOWL STEALING

On Tuesday Richard Smith of New Street was brought up in custody at the Town Hall, before the Mayor and Mr C W Kellow, charged with stealing fowls, the property of Mr T Lamb, solicitor of this borough. From the evidence offered, it appeared that information having been received of the theft of fowls the police proceeded to The Elms in Salisbury Road, where there were traces of forcible entry to the hen coops, while feathers and the head of a young chicken were found. A trail was laid by means of feathers which led from Mr Lamb’s premises, through Mr Westbury’s and over the fields behind Junction Road, and which led right to the prisoner’s house. Here there was evidence of fowls being cooked, and a remand was asked to enable the police to complete their evidence. Prisoner, who denied the offence, was remanded till Monday.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 15AUGUST 1924

ABBOTTS ANN – CRICKET

Of all sport in the village, cricket takes the most prominent part. The local side’s balance sheet at the end of last season was very unsatisfactory from the treasurer’s point of view, but during the closed season great effort was made by the committee, and the present season commenced with a substantial balance in hand. From a playing point of view the first eleven have not done so well as last season. In the Border League an early reverse at Thruxton was somewhat unexpected. It happened to be a very wet morning, and one or two of the team living on the boundary, thinking it impossible to play, failed to turn up. The same day, that good all-rounder, A Winter, was taken ill just before the start (which later turned out to be appendicitis, but we are pleased to say he is now convalescent). Substitutes were picked up from the few followers present, but Thruxton won comfortably. Grateley also won their matches against Abbotts Ann, and to them went the honour of Division Champions. In the Wallop League, the two reverses against Broughton shattered all visions of that trophy for this season. Of the second string, more can be said, and the committee’s action in not drawing talent from this team has proved to be a wise one. At the moment, they have not lost a match in the second division of the Wallop League, and have made certain of being champions the first year of its inception. We feel sure, however, that the season will prove a satisfactory one from both a playing and financial point of view, and both teams have had good sport which is the first consideration.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 19 AUGUST 1949

CALLING ASTRONOMERS

Mr W Stanton Thompson, of ‘Homing’, 126 Millway Road, seeks corroboration. He says: I should be very grateful if a local amateur astronomer would let me know through your newspaper whether I should be right in thinking that I saw the planet Mercury low down in the western sky, well to the left of the where the sun had set, at about 9 pm yesterday (15th) and again at the same time this evening for about a minute until clouds obscured it. I believe that opportunities to see Mercury, the planet nearest the sun, are few. It is many years since I last saw it. Monday evening was cloudless, and the planet was bright to the unaided eye, and a clear disc through my field glasses.  

FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 19 AUGUST 1977

GUILDHALL AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE, SAYS COUNCILLOR

The Guildhall at Andover is ‘an absolute disgrace,’ Cllr C Olivier told Test Valley borough councillors on Wednesday. He supported a suggestion by Cllr John Morgan, chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee, that cash be earmarked in next year’s estimates for further repair to the Guildhall. Repair work is already being carried out in the Guildhall, but Cllr Morgan said he feared the same thing might happen at the Guildhall as at the Beech Hurst offices. The committee had earlier agreed to spend another £5,000 on work at Beech Hurst, in addition to the £25,000 already spent on repairs. But the committee heard that the extent of the work was greater than originally anticipated, as much of the defective work had been hidden.