ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO FRIDAY, 28 APRIL 1882 WHITCHURCH - FOUR SALVATIONISTS IMPRISONED On Sunday morning last the Salvation Army, who have lately confined their services to their Factory, determined, perhaps not wisely, to renew their parade of the streets. The police being aware of their intentions a strong force assembled at the factory gate at the time the Army were expected out.

The mob of roughs, who have practically ruled in Whitchurch for some time past, were also strongly represented, ready to assist police in keeping the Army in. After a short service in the yard a procession was formed and a start made, but this and other attempts to leave the yard were forcibly prevented by the combined forces. In the end the Captain, Lieutenant, and two others were taken into custody, and marched off to the Police Station, singing as they went, "Anywhere with Jesus," the mob following, howling and groaning as only Massaganian mobs can howl.

The prisoners were well cared for by sympathising friends during the day, and the windows of the cell were besieged by members of the Army all day listening to the singing of the prisoners.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO FRIDAY, 26 APRIL 1907 ANDOVER COUNTY BENCH - INDIGNANT CAROLINE Caroline Donoghue, an old woman, was charged with acting as a pedlar without having the necessary license at Longparish on Tuesday.-P.C. James proved seeing the prisoner offering boot laces for sale at two houses at Longparish and when asked to produce her certificate she was unable to do so.

He had previously received complaints about the prisoner from Hurstbourne. When unable to secure a sale she became abusive.-Prisoner made a rambling statement but the magistrate sentenced her to seven days at Winchester. On leaving the court, prisoner said she would begin stealing when she came out; she did not suppose she would get any more for that.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO FRIDAY, 22 APRIL 1932 ANDOVER -- SCRIPTURE QUOTED IN COURT Those who were engaged in business at the Borough Bench on Monday witnessed a rather unusual occurrence, that of a witness who would not be sworn. There was really no need for him to be sworn, as the defendants in the case had pleaded guilty, but as soon as reached the "box" he said he had an objection to be sworn, and read the following passage of Scripture from the Epistle of James, chapter 5, version 12: "But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath, but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay, lest ye fall into condemnation."

FIFTY YEARS AGO FRIDAY, 26 APRIL 1957 QUIET EASTER HOLIDAY Traffic through Andover over the Easter holiday was the lightest for many years. Petrol rationing prevented many motorists from making the long trip from London and the Midlands to the West Country, which is usual for this popular holiday period.

Easter Monday, normally the busiest of the four days, was unusually quiet for there was no motor-cycle race-meeting at Thruxton Airfield. In previous years hundreds of motor-cycles, cars and coaches pass through Andover for this event.

In the town itself there were fewer visitors than usual. The churches all reported good congregations at the special Easter services that had been arranged.

There were several attractive football fixtures, including a cup-tie, cup final and six-a-side tournaments at the Walled meadow. All the games were well supported.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO FRIDAY, 23 APRIL 1982 TOWN CALLED MALICE?

"We are all blithering idiots!" - the proud pronouncement from the Idiots' Ballroom roadshow which played at The Swallow, Andover recently.

Considering the cost was only 75p and the main band was The Androids of Mu - reasonably well known to rock fans-one could well have expected rather more than the 60-odd paying customers, hardly enough to pay the petrol and PA. At times the groups were more or less playing to each other.

Unfortunately, the ballroom attracted the wrong sort of Idiots with several band members being attacked by youths who appeared unable to hold their drink, after the concert ended. The attacks were unprovoked.

The evening kicked off with Merry Zap Zap, followed by Nova Express. Next on was Brian Trueblue, who played probably the most avant-garde set of the evening with a remarkably free interpretation of "Skippy the bush kangaroo" and a charming little ditty entitled "Dance till you vomit".

Let's hope that another interesting concert being held at the Avalon Hall, King Arthur's Way, Andover, does get the support it deserves on 1 May when Andover punk band Corrupt Abuse play their debut concert with special guests Mutant Babies and Sneepy Malchicks.