From Our Files - The top stories from 75, 50 and 25 years ago

Col. Crosthwaite-Eyre was asked a question on the subject at the recent Highcliffe Conservative fete, and apparently lost no time in raising it on the floor of the House.

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MRS A. BEALE, of Irby Cottage, Hordle, has just heard that her son Donald, an air mechanic serving on board HMS Glory, had a narrow escape from death during the recent disastrous air display at Melbourne. He is due home in October, having served two years as a conscript, being called up at the age of 18.

The following letter tells of his experience: “The day turned out to be one of disaster both for us and the Theseus, another carrier escorting the Glory. All told, the Theseus lost three aircraft and five men. Two Fireflies collided in mid-air and plunged into the sea, the crews of these were lost and then a Seafire crashed on the deck and killed a stoker.”

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VICTOR WEAR, of Marston Road, New Milton, a Brockenhurst Grammar School boy aged 13-and-a-half, has achieved a longstanding ambition – to cycle to Scotland.

His father, Capt. G. F. Wear, of the Royal Army Educational Corps, is stationed at the Army School of Education at Drymen, close to Loch Lomond, and it was to see him that Victor set off alone one Saturday at 6.45am. Carrying a ground sheet and a blanket, he was independent of hotels, inns, or hostels, and slept at nights by haystacks and hedges.

50 YEARS AGO

TALKS are being held to bring about a coordinated plan for horse riders and pony trekkers in the New Forest. This follows a statement by Deputy Surveyor of the Forest, Mr Donn Small, at the last New Forest Consultative Panel meeting that pony trekking was causing as much damage to the Forest as the motor car.

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AN offer by honorary freeman of the Borough and former Mayor of Lymington, Mr John Howlett OBE, to donate to Lymington Council for the use of the Mayor the Rolls Royce which he has owned for many years, has been declined by the Council.

Mr Howlett has been informed that his gesture was very greatly appreciated but, having regard to the high expenditure likely to be involved – the cost of repairs, insurance, running expenses, etc – and the imminent reorganisation of local government, as a result of which the Borough will cease to exist, the Council regretted they were unable to accept the offer.

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(Pictured) The last notes of music from the final day of New Milton Carnival Week had barely been carried away by the wind before plans were already being made for next year’s jubilee programme. For although it had been stated that this year would be the last carnival in its present form, there is no doubt that one will take place next year. Almost every event during the week had produced record takings, and the carnival committee are confident they have exceeded last year’s figures of £1,200. Pictured from left to right are the motor cycle winners Chris Ventress (best junior), with Janet Shorey, Richard Ridout (carnival cup) with carnival queen Caroline Vince, and Sammy Miller (trials cup) with Debbie Earwicker.

25 YEARS AGO

AN appeal against a County Court judge’s ruling in a dispute between a farmer and a commoner that animals on roads in the New Forest are there illegally could, it is claimed, spell the end of commoning if not challenged.

The judgment to be challenged in the Court of Appeal is that of Judge Guy Boney, QC, in the case brought by farmer Nicholas Daniel, of Hyde Farm, Stuckton, near Fordingbridge, against commoner Phil Reynolds, of Netherwylde Newgrounds, Godshill, over alleged scabby sheep depastured within the gridded perambulation infecting his stock.

The plaintiff, Mr Daniel, raised the issue of fences and unaccompanied stock “milling around” on the road and the judge then ruled that stock should be accompanied.

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THIS winter the Forestry Commission in the New Forest stands to make at least £40,000 from culling deer and selling the venison.

Currently venison prices are low and summer venison sold for as little as £2.53 a kilo to the trade. But it is expected to reach over £3.55 a kilo for the winter season October to March.

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SIR TOM Normanton was the champion of many causes in his roles of businessman and politician: he fought for the survival of the British textile industry; fought to protect the consumer with a Private Member’s Bill which led to the Trades Description Act becoming law in 1973; and more recently fought Government apathy to ensure the country recognised the 50th anniversary of the wartime D-Day landings.

Sir Tom, who bought his family home Nelson House in Lymington 11 years ago, never really recovered from being mugged in South Africa in 1985, and he died on Wednesday in last week at the age of 80 in Lymington Hospital.