July 30, 1952

The winner of the fancy dress competition at Bassingham Gymkhana on Saturday was Dianne Kirk of Fiskerton who was dressed as Queen Elizabeth I.

A triumph for a Newark family was eight-year-old Susanna Weatherhead's success.

Little fair-haired Susanna who sits on a horse as naturally as anyone would sit in an armchair has been riding in competitions since she was five.

She was awarded the rosette for the best girl riding a pony. She also won the third prize in the fancy dress competition dressed as a mermaid.

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Is it dangerous for window cleaners to ride their bicycles one handed, towing ladders behind them with the other hand?

Newark Borough Road Safety Council agreed last week that it was dangerous, but there was nothing they could do about the practice.

Mr J. Creamer, British Railways road transport delegate on the council, pointed out the difficulty of controlling a cycle with one hand, which had to be used for steering, braking, ringing the bell and signalling.

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Newark is to have council houses built in terraces to conserve land and cheapen costs. The scheme should result in lower rents.

This major change in the town's building policy was approved by Newark Town Council on Monday night.

Opposition was led by Coun. Mrs E. Yorke who said of terraced houses: "When you have built them you have thrown to the winds the most precious thing that belongs to any householder - his privacy."

16 July, 1952

Little girls who are chosen to present bouquets have to rehearse carefully. Janet Clough had the drill perfect when she handed flowers to the Mayoress of Newark, Mrs T. W. Howes, at Hawtonville Junior School Open Day.

Everyone smiled appreciatively as Janet presented the flowers with her right hand. She was already gripping her dress for the curtsey.

The mayor was not forgotten in this flower welcome. Verona Paulson gave him a buttonhole.

Dr Denys Hine was installed as president at Newark Rotary Club's annual meeting on Monday. He is the first son to follow the footsteps of his father as president. The late Dr H. F. Hine was Newark Rotary president in 1928-9.

Dr Denys Hine's brother, Dr Geoffrey Hine, was recently elected chairman of Newark's Round Table.

When retiring president Rotarian A. E. Bandy handed over the president's chain of office to Dr Hine, Dr Hine got a tie pin attached with it.

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A fresh chapter in the 900-year-old story of the Manor of Laxton was opened last night, when Earl Manvers, the 35th Lord of the Manor, said farewell to his tenants of the 25 open-fields farms in the village.

The property has been sold to the Ministry of Agriculture so that the pre-Norman Conquest farming system can be preserved after Lord Manvers' death. There was the possibility death duties would have meant the breaking up of the farms.

July 9 1952

Here is an Advertiser news photo of the two crews of firemen who won trophies in the whole time and retained personnel sections of the major pump drill events at the Nottinghamshire County Fire Services championships.

Back row (whole time personnel) left to right are: Firemen L. Baker, A. Barker, leading fireman T. Bryan, firemen Price and J. H. Barker.

Front row (retained personnel) left to right: Firemen Whitworth, Bombroffe, sub officer Holloway, firemen Johnson and Longmate.

Star for Newark Athletic Club last week when the club entertained the five other clubs in the county athletic inter-club league on the Castle Brewery ground, was Elaine Horton. She broke the inter-league 100 yards record winning in 11 point six seconds. Then she won the 220 yards.

The other highlight of the evening, with the temperature dropping like a quick-freeze, was Bill Ferguson, still fresh from chasing the heels of McDonald Bailey at the White City. He ran at Newark in the 220 for his club, Notts A. C.

Coming up to the tape with arms and legs moving with synchronised grace, he was, like an express train, unstoppable.

It was a pity that A. Webster who runs for the British Olympic team could not come along with his club - Sutton-in-Ashfield - and give an exhibition. But he had his orders not to run.

With Webster out, Newark's own half-miler Tom Grocock, who not so long ago could leave Webster behind, shot home a good winner.

And there ends the list of first places gained by Newark.

For more than five hours on Thursday, Ransome and Marles' bandsmen perspired under blazing arc lamps in a Birmingham BBC studio working on a 20-minute tele-cast, part of TV Children's Hour. This was the first time a brass band has given a full musical programme on television.

Mr David Aspinall, conductor of the 27-piece works band, described being under the cameras' baleful eye as "an unforgettable experience."

"We were working for five hours on the set before they had the cameras and lights fixed in the right positions. There seemed to be hundreds of technicians everywhere. . . it was like a factory."

The bandsmen wore no make-up, but had special cream jackets with "R. and M." on the breast pockets. Banners with the same initials were draped in front of the stands.

"This was the first time a brass band has played a full musical programme on television," said Mr. Aspinall.

"Bands have been on before, and the instruments have been described to viewers, but Ransome and Marles are the first to give a complete programme."

One item - "Trombones to the Fore" - showed the Newark trombonists in close-up.

Robert Oughton, the band's solo cornetist, played one of his own arrangements, and Sam Hursthouse, drummer, gave a xylophone solo.

Robert Oughton, Ken Johnson, W. Walton and Geoff. Tomlinson played as a quartet.

July 2 1952

Newark Sunday School Queen Audrey Ball joined her attendants, Irene Lincoln and Shirley Goy.

More than 1,000 children from 13 Sunday schools in town and district on Saturday took part in the best-ever Sunday School festival staged in Newark since the war.

Four months ago Audrey (16) of Balderton, had an accident that almost prevented her being crowned queen of the festival.

She hurt her hand just before the scripture examination sponsored by Newark Sunday School Union, and on the day of the examination she was unable to write. As top girl is automatically queen, Audrey thought she was out of the running.

She was sent to the home of Mr G. W. Wilson, a member of the committee, and dictated to him her answers to the questions on the text paper.

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The hottest day in Newark for two years was on Monday. The maximum temperature recorded in Newark Friary grounds was 90 degrees. It was 91 on June 7, 1950. Since last Wednesday the temperature has crept up and up.

Into Newark bathing pool on Sunday went 1,013 people, plus season ticket holders.

But the attendance was not a record for this year - there was a higher attendance when the swimming season opened.