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It is the habit of all to look back over the year about to close.
We are still too near the war years to have forgotten the agonies of retrospection which they carried with them but, at the same time, as 1948 draws towards its end, we are conscious of having achieved something of lasting good, of having added a little to the creditable site of history, and in that we may find a consolation or experience a feeling of thankfulness.
Now we are on the threshold of the New Year and it is time to look forward to a new horizon and to brace ourselves for the task ahead.
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There were two innovations which gave pleasure in Newark on Christmas Eve - the distribution of gifts by the Mayor (Ald J.H. Knight) to children, and the singing of carols round the illuminated Christmas tree in the Market Place.
Some hundreds of townspeople assembled in the square for the "switch on," which made the giant Christmas tree a memorable spectacle of decoration and coloured lights.
Floodlights at the base of the decorated tree helped to enhance the effect and the reflection helped to illuminate the front of the Town Hall.
Copies of the carols to be sung were distributed among the crowd and were rendered to the accompaniment of the Salvation army band.
At the close the Vicar of Newark (The Rev G.W. Clarkson) referred to the impressive assembly and pronounced the blessing.
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On Thursday a big attraction is to be screened in Newark, at the Palace, Charles Dickens' Great Expectations.
The story of Pip, the blacksmith's apprentice whose whole life is changed when he comes into a handsome property, has been cleverly transferred to the screen, and some of the best British actors and actresses have leading roles.
Pip is John Mills, and Estella is Valerie Hobson, while these two characters as boy and girl are superbly played by Anthony Wager and Jean Simmons.
There are magnificent performances by the whole cast, but Finlay Currie is outstanding as Magwitch the convict and Bernard Miles as Joe Gargery, the blacksmith..
At the annual meeting of the Newark branch of the Farmers' Union at the Town Hall on Thursday evening, Mr J.B. Jones (Thoroton), was elected chairman in succession to Mr R.D.K. Bradley (Thorpe), who held the office for two years.
The union discussed the possibility of forming a farmers' co-operative organisation for the south of the country, and the new Newark chairman supported the desirability of farmers coming to the meeting to air their views.
The secretary, Mr C.C. Swan, reported a record membership of 562, which is 15 more than last year.
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In the November Air Training Proficiency Examination, open to all ATC Units throughout the country, the Newark Squadron No 1260 achieved the remarkable success of being top.
Four cadets from Newark were entered and all passed with distinction.
The commanding officer, Wing Commander C.A. Fidler, has received the congratulations from the Air Officer Commanding upon the Squadron's outstanding success.
It is most remarkable that out of only six "distinguisheds" four of them should be from Newark.
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The Christmas post has been high this year. Up to Monday night 84,000 letters had passed through the stamping machine at the Newark office.
This is an increase of 4% upon last year, and it is thought that Monday's posting of 50,000 items, registered on the stamping machine will be this year's peak.
Parcels traffic corresponds to that of 1947, and so do telegrams, but telephone calls show a marked increase.
There has been no real problem over additional staff. For indoor work there were plenty of adult applicants, chiefly married women, and it was not necessary to call upon the services of the High School students.
For outdoor work 31 Magnus boys again volunteered to help with deliveries.
A Newark team of gymnasts is to compete against teams from Manchester, Nottingham and Chesterfield in an inter-town gymnastic championship organised by Jack Flaherty, captain of the 1948 British Olympic gymnast team, to be held in the New Year.
This information was disclosed by Mr Flaherty in an exclusive interview with an Advertiser reporter at the close of the Newark Gymnastic Club's individual championships contest on Saturday night.
The Newark team will be coached in their training by Mr Ivor Price, a member of the Olympic team.
The Mayor of Newark, Ald J.H. Knight, said he was pleased to see that such talent existed among the boys of Newark.
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A Smithfreeze refrigerator has arrived in Newark. It was installed on Monday afternoon in the Middlegate shop of Messrs Oldhams Frozen Fruit Ltd, after the shop window had been taken out to facilitate the work.
Weighing a ton, the new refrigerator is the only one of its kind in this district and it is something to look at. It holds about half a ton of frozen fruit.
The upper portion is glass-fronted and everything is open. The goods can be displayed in this part of the refrigerator, and the display is further enhanced by a mirror at a high level which reflects what is beneath. Thus it is a showcase as well.
The customer sees the articles he wants by looking at the mirror, and so the choice of food and the service is much simplified.
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Delighted audiences filled the Trebeck Hall on each of the four occasions of the performance of Toad of Toad Hall given last week by boys of the Minster Grammar School.
This play, adapted for the stage by A.A. Milne, bids fair to rival scenes from Alice in Wonderland as a medium for school stage productions.
The lighting and animal costumes were effective while the interpretation of the animal parts spoke of the hard work put into this production by both masters and boys.
K.B. Waters followed up his success in The Winslow Boy by his outstanding performance of the part of the impoverished Mr Toad, while all gave a creditable show in their respective parts. The play was produced by the headmaster, Mr B.J. Rushby-Smith.
The strains of Scottish airs played in the traditional manner on the bagpipes echoed through the Town Hall on Friday night on the occasion of the revival of the Caledonian Ball by the Newark and District Caledonian Society.
This was after a lapse of 10 years. At the commencement, the tartan-clad figure of the Society's Hon Piper Mr A. McNicol played up the main stairway and into the ballroom, providing a true Scottish atmosphere for the guests.
The revival of the ball was welcomed in the town and district and on Friday 200 guests attended the "gathering of the clans."
Music for the dancing was provided by Basil Halliday and his Broadcasting Band and Scottish dancers were featured during the evening.
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The town of Titipu has come to Newark this week. In other words The Mikado is being staged at the Technical College by the Newark Amateur Operatic Society, and it is a praiseworthy show.
Principals and chorus moved with such effect, on Monday night, that it was hardly noticed that this Gilbert and Sullivan show was being played on such a small stage.
Once again Mr John Greatorex plays the Mikado, and his make-up as the ruler who makes the punishment fit the crime is a masterpiece.
The chorus of young ladies, nobles and guards provides a tuneful background and the easy run of the performance reflects to the credit of the stage management, and Mr William Wheatcroft in that department must have worked hard.
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The sum needed to complete the total of £1,000 for the Parish Church, the cost of the new heating facilities in the Mount Schools, and the £100 necessary for the up-keep of the St Mary's Rooms, was successfully attained at the Parish Church Christmas Fair, held in the Mount Schools on Thursday.
The flower bedecked hall in which the fair was held was reminiscent of pre-war days, with food and fancy articles of clothing overflowing the tables which surrounded the room.
The place was filled to capacity when the Rev G.W. Clarkson introduced Mr A.C. Nicholson, who was to open the fair. In the evening a concert was held and an enjoyable old-time dance was held later in the evening.
The Freedom of the Borough - the highest distinction that the town can bestow - is to be conferred on two Staniland.
This was decided at a meeting of the Town Council on Monday, when the mayor (Alderman J.H. Knight) presided, and was the result of a special meeting of the council and a recommendation brought forward by a specially appointed committee.
It is envisaged that the two honorary freemen will be admitted during civic week next year.
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Jack Flaherty, captain of the 1948 British Olympic gymnastic team, and Mr Ivor Vice, a fellow member, will give demonstrations at the Newark Gymnastic Club's individual championships contest.
The competition will be staged at the club's headquarters, adjoining Northgate house, next Saturday. The Mayor of Newark, Alderman J. H. Knight, will attend to present the cups and medals.
Mr Flaherty was the England gymnastic championship in 1938, and Northern Counties champion for three consecutive years, 1936-7-8. He has represented England in many international contests.
Club members will compete in set exercises on the parallel bars and also in free exercises. This is the first year that the general public has had an opportunity to witness this annual contest.
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The 38th annual Members' Show of the Newark and District Cage Bird Society was held in St Mary's Rooms on Saturday.
All previous records of the society were broken with a total of 273 entries.
The best bird in show was an unflighted Buff Border canary exhibited by J. Parker of Newark.
The most interesting exhibit was a Waxwing shown in superb condition by Mr Hebblewhite of Lincoln, which secured for him the British Trophy.
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