100 Years Ago.

PEWSEY: Pewsey, always up to date, can claim to be a little ahead of the times. It is the first town in the country probably where a witness has made a journey to its police court by aeroplane. This unusual method of travel for such a purpose was adopted by Lieutenant C G Gould of the Royal Flying Corps, stationed at Netheravon, on Monday afternoon, when he was an important witness in a case in which his former servant was charged with stealing a suit of clothes.

CORSHAM: Drillling is taking place every evening in the Church Square under Sergeant Hawthorne. It continued for a few weeks attended by ten or a dozen but in response to an appeal by the vicar, both in the parish magazine and the pulpit on Sunday, the number increased this week to 30 or more. The vicar has been working very hard recruiting in the north of England during his holidays and has gained 100 recruits.

50 Years Ago.

BIDDESTONE: The problem of parking is being taken up by Biddesotone Parish Council. A complaint was discussed at last week’s meeting concerning the parking of vehicles on the public footway during the hours of darkness and it was decided to ask the police to investigate it. Members sympathised with owners of vehicles who had not and could not find garage space, but said they could not allow parking which was a danger to the public. The chairman suggested that the Calne and Chippenham Rural Council be asked to lay hardcore along a track adjacent to the wall of Mountjoy Farm to give access to The Butts, a piece of common land where cars then could be parked.

MARLBOROUGH: The first of the two Marlborough Mop fairs was held on Saturday, and in keeping with tradition, was accompanied by rain. But the showers were short, and they failed to dampen the spirits of the hundreds who attended the fair.

25 Years Ago.

CHIPPENHAM: Electronics firm Home Automation Ltd has announced 18 redundances – less than three weeks after its official opening by the Duke of Kent. The job losses came after the firm’s sister company, Ripul Ltd, lost trade for big capital projects.

DEVIZES: Guests at a presentation evening in Devizes Town Hall may have been forgiven for thinking that the Martians had landed. The event was last Friday’s Boto-X evening and the centre of attraction was the very latest in satellite communications tecnology. The communication system can be used to dial anywhere in the world.