100 Years Ago.

CORSHAM: The statement of the accounts to date of the General (War) Fund has been published today. The receipts were £634. The sum of £200 has been placed on deposit for the relief of distress, but so far no call has been made for the purpose. Nearly £250 has been spent in connection with the Red Cross Hospital; £30 was given to Lady Methuen’s clothing fund; £20 was voted to the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Families’ Association. The minor payments included a small sum for protecting the waterworks. In addition to the £200 on deposit there is £131 in the bank and in hand.

50 Years Ago.

HEDDINGTON: Telephone engineers have been busy repairing dozens of telephones in the vicinity of Heddington, put out of action by a freak lightning flash which struck a tree near the British Legion hut in the centre of the village. Also put out of action were electric heaters in Heddington church, where an evening service went on in the cold after a churchwarden had received an electric shock while trying to repair the fuses. A Southern Electricity Board spokesman said that damage had been done to the earthing installations of a number of electrical installations. A GPO spokesman said that much wiring had been damaged. Some of the telephones had been repaired, but the work would take several days to complete.

DEVIZES: While not opposing the closure of Devizes branch railway station, Devizes Town Council is joining Devizes Rural Council in seeking to keep open Lavington station on the main Paddington to West Country line. After a joint meeting of representatives of the two authorities the Mayor said it was decided to press for one station to be kept open in the area and it seemed sensible to retain Lavington on a main line, rather than Devizes on a 20-mile loop line. This is the point which will be made at an inquiry at which objections to closure may be lodged.

25 Years Ago.

CHIPPENHAM: Gusts of more than 105mph brought chaos to Chippenham and North Wiltshire yesterday afternoon. Police warned motorists not to drive unless it was an absolute emergency, and rail services between Chippenham and Swindon were halted. Incidents in the town centre included a plate glass window being blown out at the Crisco carpet shop in the Market Place. The Bath Road was closed after fears for motorists’ and pedestrians’ safety, because of structural damage to nearby buildings. Police reported more than 250 incidents in just a few hours.