From our Files: Flint sparks town theory...‘gin palace’ pubs...historical cash crime
75 Years Ago
Hampshire doctors have received a nasty jolt in a letter from the Medical Executive Council of the County.
It tells them that they are not entitled to the £300 basic salary which it was generally understood that they would be paid under the new National Health scheme.
If they apply for it they have to make a disclosure of their financial position, or in other words, there is to be a rigid means test.
One local doctor declares that his cheque for three months work under the National Health Act came to £23 which was 2 and half D per patient visit.
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A Mr F Robins told a meeting of the New Milton Rotarians that early inhabitants of the town were alive from 60,000 to 100,000 years ago.
He said he had acquired some native flint implements when the town’s new sewerage works were being built.
A wedge shaped piece of flint eight inches long was used he said to probably cut up meat. He also handed around an axe which dated to same time the first inhabitants of New Milton were around which he said could be 100,000 years ago.
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Hordle Spurs two sided both had excellent wins. The Bournemouth League team beat the Airways at home. In the first half they had their centre-half knocked out whenb he headed out a powerful shot.
In the second half Francis the goal-keeper received slight concussion and did not know much about the last 20 minutes of the game, having to ask what the score was.
50 Years Ago
At Brockenhurst Parish Council one member said he was “sick, sorry and tired of village pubs being turned into gin palaces and glorified Saturday night eating houses”.
“The village pub is vanishing from our scene altogether.”
The council was discussing the formal notifications of the proposed reopening of the Oldfellows Arms, Steley, which Whitbread the brewers closed earlier this year.
The new owner of the property is making a planning application to provide a restaurant and kitchen.
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Keyhaven Fishermen’s Association have written to New Forest MP Patrick McNair-Wilson to ask him to support a campaign to keep large trawlers away from inshore fishing grounds.
At present the law states that British trawlers must keep three miles offshore. Common market boats six miles and other foreign boats 12 miles out.
Mr R Russell, secretary of the association, told the A&T members had seen French and Belgian boats within the six-mile limit of the Needles.
He said: “The heavy beam trawls are causing severe damage to the natural spawning grounds of the fish which will deplete future stocks.”
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New Milton Chamber of Trade members are to be asked to reconsider a decision not to open six days a week – a scheme which Lymington traders are in favour of.
They are also to be asked for their views on half-day closing.
At the chamber’s meeting, president David Stone said only 37 traders had replied to a survey on the matter.
Member Reginald Alderson said he thought Saturday afternoon was the most suitable for closing while Mr Cozens said he thought traders should consider late night shopping.
25 Years Ago
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25 Years Ago
Minstead social club crib team which competes in the Lymington Borough league has reached the heights - competing at Bridlington the players have won the British national champions ship.
Their team of seven comprised Captain Tom Jess, Eric Gillett, Shaun Jess, Dave Upward, Chris Waller, Helen Walker and Keith Walker.
They won £1,600 in addition to the handsome cup.
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Recorded crime in Hampshire fell by 9.4% in the year to March 31st, 1998, according to figures released by the Home Office.
A total of 121,042 offences were recorded in Hampshire compared to 133, 529 in 1996/97 – a drop of 12,487.
Recorded burglaries were down 13.2% to 19,487 and recorded car crime fell 18.4% to 26,679.
Both reductions exceeded the national average which showed a fall of 12.3% for burglary and 12% for car crime.
Robbery also fell 6.8% to 534 compared to a national average reduction of 13.3%.
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A thief with a guilty conscience has returned the money he stole from a charity money box more than 20 years ago.
Angela Warren, manager of the Cat & Fiddle at Hinton Admiral was amazed when she opened her post on Wednesday morning to find a letter from someone who said they had taken the collection box for the blind when he visited the pub in the 1970s.
As well as the note of apology, the letter also contained £50 cash to repay the money plus the amount that had been stolen.
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Hospital waiting times in Dorset continue to be among the shortest in the country the national health authority has revealed.
Just 53 patients had to wait more than six months for admission to hospital and only one person had to wait more than eight months which was for specialist treatment in London.
For out-patient treatment the local target is for a first appointment within nine weeks in most specialities. That was achieved in 73% of cases with 90% of patients being seen within 13 weeks.
