ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 17 AUGUST 1894

LONGPARISH

Harvest operations have become general in this neighbourhood, and Mr.Potticary carried a field of wheat on Tuesday last, securing it in good condition. It is worthy of note that notwithstanding the introduction of reaping machines, cutters, &c., Mr.Potticary has never used one, either for cutting his grass or corn crops, he having them cut with the scythe, notwithstanding the fact that he farms a larger extent than any other farmer in the village.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 15 AUGUST 1919

CORRESPONDENCE — COMRADES OF THE GREAT WAR

Dear Sir,—I shall esteem it a favour if you can spare me the space for the insertion of the enclosed letter which recently came into my hands from the Headquarters of the Comrades of the Great War Movement of which I am the hon.secretary of the local post. As far as I not no outsider has ever been asked to subscribe one halfpenny to the post in Ludgershall. Yours faithfully,

C.W.SMEESBY, Hon Sec. Ludgershall.

Copy of Letter Received by Headquarters

Major Attwell,

Dear Sir,—It will interest many here if you can give any information upon the following points:—First, What are the main objects of the movement (Comrades of the Great War), secondly—What constitutes membership of the Comrades of the Great War? The local branch has for its chairman Mr.George Bryman, who has not served in the Great War, as a soldier in any capacity[.] It is therefore difficult to see how he can be a Comrade of the Great War. Many others are admitted to membership and proudly wear the membership badge when they never joined any branch of H.M.services, but whose claim of Membership is based upon being attested, and were turned down on medical or other grounds, but having gone for attestation and been paid 2s. 9d. for this enforced day of military service, are eligible for membership of the Comrades of the Great War. Everyone with a spark of loyalty agrees that a movement to help men who have been overseas and eventually taken an active part in the Great War are entitled to every possible assistance on returning to civilian life apparently in order to show members have admitted to membership persons who have no possible claim to comradeship in the hardship and strain that so many of our kinsmen have so gallantly borne during this war. If it is carried on these lines it will bring the movement into contempt and destroy the fundamental object the promoters must have had in view in starting this movement. If the movement is carried on strictly for the benefit of those men who have been Comrades (companions) in the Great War overseas it will commend itself to all right-thinking men, and command all the support needed.—Yours faithfully, M.ELKINS. Central Garage, Ludgershall.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 18 AUGUST 1944

NOTICE

Railborne to victory

Without fuel not a plane, lorry nor tank can move, not a factory can produce: without food no soldier can fight, no worker can work. Fuel and food are vital, and the railways carry supplies where they are needed. The railways are an indispensable link in the chain of victory.

BRITISH RAILWAYS

GWR : LMS : LNER : SR

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 15 AUGUST 1969

PLANNERS REJECT VICAR’S PLAN TO REMOVE TOWER

Foxcotte Tower at Charlton has been saved from the bulldozers of the demolition men. For local planners have unanimously voted against allowing an application by the Rev,P.J.Chandler for it to be knocked down.

Opposition to his plan came from societies which seek to retain ancient buildings when the plan first went before members of the Northern Divisional Planning Committee last month.

Before making their decision the committee sent a special sub-committee to view the tower from the planning point of view.

And they all came back to report whole heartedly: “The tower must stay.”

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 19 AUGUST 1994

CHARITY CONCERT NOT A ‘WOODSTOCK’

Organisers of a Bank Holiday weekend free music afternoon at Charlton Lakes are reassuring concerned locals that the event ‘won’t be Andover’s Woodstock’!

The charity concert, scheduled for Sunday 28 August, will feature ‘60s star Georgie Fame alongside local ‘supergroup’ Still Crazy, the Hampshire Constabulary jazz band and folk musicians. ‘Special surprise guests’ are also promised.

The event will run from noon to 6pm near the Lakeside Cafe but the early curfew has not appeased one anonymous protester who has leafleted local households urging them to object to the event.

Handbills throughout the village show a middle-aged man apparently tearing his hair out with frustration, and bear the ominous legend: ‘Avoid any inconvenience this event might cause — object now! or pray for rain’.

“It’s all a bit silly really. It’s just a family afternoon of music and fun,” said organiser Terry Forbes.

A cash collection at the free concert was being organised to benefit Homewood — a Charlton-based charity helping people with learning disabilities.

Georgie Fame will be interrupting a tour of Germany to perform for free at the concert.

Al Grindley of Town TV, which is helping to organise the afternoon, said: “It won’t be Andover’s answer to Woodstock if that’s what people think!

“A lot of people have put a great deal of effort into arranging this free event — it’s a shame someone’s got to moan about it.”

Many Charlton residents said they were looking forward to the event.