September 30, 1953

All eyes on the target at Beckingham range on Saturday when 40 members of Newark Home Guard fired courses.

This Advertiser newsphoto shows a detail firing Bren guns. Watching in the beret is the commanding officer, Lieut-colonel F. W. O. Robinson. With him is the units adjutant, Captain H. Holliehead.

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Horses that may be seen on television shortly took part in the jumping competition at Collingham Agricultural Show on Saturday.

Many of the animals in the open jumping had already qualified for the horse of the year contest at Harringay in October, part of which is to be televised.

With the going fast and the sunshine bright, the jumping provided excitement for the spectators. Ten riders were thrown, some heavily. And a loose horse alarmed the crowd.

Mr A. Masserella's Huntsman, ridden by Andrew Masserella, junior, jibbed at a fence, threw its rider and cantered round the ring. Spectators threw up their arms as Huntsman approached, and the horse panicked and bolted.

It charged at a line of seated on lookers close to the collecting ring, but was stopped a few feet short by a rider wanting to take his turn in the ring.

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Ex-gunner Mr W.G. Keeton of Pacey's Row, Newark, secretary of Newark Artillery Association, proudly watched the new standard of the Newark British Legion Women's Section carried to Newark Parish Church on Sunday. The standard bearer was his wife - an ex W.A.A.F.

September 23, 1953

Hundreds of Newarkers left town on Saturday afternoon to watch Newton RAF Station's Battle of Britain display.

A special bus service carried 1,200 passengers from Newark to the aerodrome, and cars and bicycles took scores more.

Unsettled weather and a double layer of clouds gave the pilots few chances in which to demonstrate their fastest speeds.

Even the star of the show, Avro's delta-winged Vulcan had to keep well clear of the poor flying conditions with the result that the sound barrier remained intact.

However, much to the enjoyment of 40,000 spectators, Sabre, Meteor and Canberra aircraft dived and spun over their heads for more than four hours.

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In a gaily decorated and crowded council chamber at Newark Town Hall on Monday evening women from every part of Newark met to form a new club.

From the Mayoress of Newark, Mrs H. F. Hine, to business women and housewives, they all had one thing in common - a love of flowers.

After the Mayoress had spoken, the club committee led by their chairman, Mrs H. Whistler, were given a vote of confidence from an enthusiastic audience, and the Newark and District Flower Lovers Club was born.

In her opening address the Mayoress told of her own deep love for flowers.

"The beauty and pleasure that surround them can bring joy to all." she said.

September 16, 1953

The largest leather boot in the world is owned by John Mills and Sons, of Bridge Street, Newark.

It was made by Messrs Halliday, of Leeds, for a trade procession at the 1887 jubilee.

The upper is made of Kip leather and the sole and heel are also solid leather. There are 470 inches of hand-stitching in the boot. Its length is three feet seven inches, its height three feet two inches.

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Newark industrialists have given £220 towards the cost of turning once-derelict Bailey House - a war-time officer cadets' club at Newark Bowbridge Road Camp - into a recreation centre for Newark South Community Association.

The association - 300 members strong - serves the area of Newark roughly bounded by Hawton Road, Boundary Road and Bowbridge Road including both Hawtonville and Hawton Road housing estates. It was formed in April this year.

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Two Union Jacks have fluttered from the end houses of Collingham Row, Queen's Street, Newark, since June 2, Coronation Day.

The two flags helped Collingham Row win the best-decorated street competition run by Newark Town Council in June.

The Mayor of Newark, Dr Denys Hine, presented a plaque to Mr and Mrs H. Duckworth. Both in their 80s, they have lived there for 60 years.

September 9, 1953

For Newark's firemen, 1953 has been an unusually busy year. So far they have been called out to more than 135 incidents since January 1. They have already passed the average total for previous years - about 120.

The busiest month was August with 28 fires. Once during the month when all fire engines were out, a machine and crew were sent from Grantham to provide fire cover for the town.

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Little Carlton, near South Muskham, Newark, may have electricity by April 1954, Southwell RDC have been told. The council approached the East Midlands Electricity Board on behalf of residents there and members were told on Friday.

The board replied, "that as the result of investigations it was hoped that subject to wayleaves etc, being obtained, a supply to the area would be afforded by April 1, 1954."

Other villages in the area will soon have street lights. There was a big attendance at the funeral service in Newark Parish Church yesterday of Major L. C. B. Appleby, who died at his home, Westby House, Southwell, on Friday.

Major Appleby was twice Mayor of Newark and for many years he was head of Newark's oldest malting firm, R. Bishop and Son.

The service was conducted by the Vicar of Newark, Canon G. W. Clarkson.

The other robed clergy included Canon C. Leeper, who read the prayers.
 

September 2, 1953

Three local bricklayer apprentices will compete at the Building Plan Exhibition in Nottingham.

They are: A. R. Clarke, 18 Warwick Road, Balderton, D. E. Johnson, 48 Appletongate, Newark, and E.W. Hurst, 12 Gopher Road, Newark.

The bricklaying competition is for indentured apprentices. These three are all apprenticed to Newark builders and contractors Blighton and Clarkson.

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An estimated £4m a year is spent in Newark shops according to a Board of Trade census report just published.

The census was taken in 1950 when there was 546 establishments in the town employing a total of more than 2,000 people.

These salespeople were paid a total of £346,000 in wages. The report covers all places of business engaged in the retail sale of goods-shops, market stalls, cinema kiosks, travelling van shops and hawkers in 1950.

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Newark traders are severely critical of new street parking restrictions and a trial one-way system introduced in the town. The whole of Newark's shopping centre is affected. Shopkeepers say the restrictions discourage trade.

The president of Newark Tradesman's Association, Mrs D. E. Holden, said: "People will simply not go to the shops if they know they cannot park This is the time for us to press for more decent carparks in Newark."

For the trial period, Baldertongate, Middlegate, Boar Lane, and parts of Stodman Street and Kirkgate will be one-way streets.