January 27, 1954

Although there is not a single living bird on the poultry-rearing farm of N. W. Hempsall Ltd, at Walesby - where the entire stock of 52,000 was destroyed last week - the delivery of day old chicks from the farm will begin again in the week beginning February 15.

Last week's slaughter on the farm - believed to be the biggest of its kind ever known in Nottinghamshire - resulted from the confirmation of foul-pest on the breeding farm.

Only half a dozen birds were affected, and there was no confirmation of the disease at the rearing farm, but it was decided to destroy the whole stock, including 45,000 eggs in incubators.

Even the ten-year-old bantam which Mr N. W. Hempsall had given to his daughters, aged nine and 14, as a pet, had to go.

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With the arrival on Monday morning of a red, white and blue patterned airmail envelope from America, Newark received its last contribution from a trust fund that has sent something between quarter-of-a-million and half-a-million dollars to Newark Hospital.

It was the final payment to the hospital from the Harry Coulby Trust, the income from which was devoted to the Newark Town and District Hospital Dispensary for 25 years.

The 25 years expired a week ago today and into the airmail postbox on Friday went the envelope containing the final statement and a cheque for 2,443 dollars.

This cheque, representing the year's contribution is the biggest ever received from the fund. With the present rate of exchange standing at less than three dollars to the pound, it is worth about £900.
 

January 20, 1954

Members of Ransome and Marles brass quartet with their conductor Mr David Aspinall have been rehearsing for a broadcast to be relayed in the BCC Midland Home Service.

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It was the suggestion that old age pensioners dug their gardens more efficiently than younger people that led Collingham to organise Britain's first ever digging match - and at Saturday's match an old age pensioner was the first to finish.

Mr Walter Turner, who at 66 still works as a roadman, took only 24 minutes to dig 16 square yards.

But honours were even for the judges took many things into consideration besides speed, including quality and depth of the soil, and a young man, Mr C. Cubitt, was awarded first prize.

Nearly 200 people watched the digging by 14 men seven women and seven boys in the field at Collingham Cross.

The men had to dig 16 square yards in 40 minutes and the women and boys half as much in the same time.

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Stodman Street, Newark, is losing the last indication of what most of it looked like during the Civil War sieges.

Demolition of the 16th Century building at the corner of Stodman Street and Middlegate began last weekend.

By yesterday only the last traces of mud-packed wattle remained of the roof and the interior walls were on their way down.

The building, last used as two shops, belongs to the same period as the Governor's House, but is more typical, representing the half-timbered peasant-type house, of the late 15th and early 16th Century. Officially it was on the list for preservation but it was beyond repair and had become dangerous.

January 13, 1954

A brightly coloured plough was pulled by a team of young farmers at the annual Nottinghamshire Farmers Plough Sunday service, always held in Newark.

The plough, used as a symbol, is one retired from active use on the land; it is carefully stored through the year and given an annual coat of red, blue and silver paint for the service. Seven white-coated young farmers carried the plough into Newark Parish Church on Sunday morning.

There it was blessed by the Bishop of Southwell, Dr Russell Barry.

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Redecorations at the Duke of Cumberland public house, Middlegate, Newark, have disclosed a 150-year-old iron fireplace of curious design which has been boarded and papered over for 25 years.

It was inspected by the Borough Museum curator, Mr Arthur Smith, and his assistant Miss Freda Whissell, who put its probable date between 1780 and 1800.

The fireplace is sufficiently curious in design and construction to be rated a collector's piece. It is hoped to acquire it for Newark Museum if the brewers decide to remove it.

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Every Thursday evening during the dark winter months a small group of Newark sportsmen disappear into the cellars of the Old White Hart Hotel to compete in what was once the recreation of kings - long alley skittles.

The alley, a 20ft long wooden run sunk in the ground, lies below the hotel near the wine and beer cellars.

Nobody is certain just when it was built, although it was there when the present licensee arrived in 1915.

For the 100 people who use the alley each season there is a list of rules particular to Newark to guide them.

January 6, 1954

More than 1,000 people were dancing in Newark ballrooms when 1954 dawned.

The biggest party was that organised by the Newark Cricket Club in the Town Hall, where more than 350 danced to the music of Willis Wells' Orchestra and an amusing cabaret turn was provided by Christopher Grant, Stanley Green and Gordon Green.

There were 300 at a carnival dance in Newark Corn Exchange, where music was played by the Alf Marshall band. Scottish exiles celebrated Hogmanay at a dance organised by the Newark Caledonian Society in the Clinton Arms Hotel. Mr Hugh Peebles was president.

The chimes of Big Ben told members of Newark Dance Club that 1954 was here while they were dancing in the Sherwood Suite of the Robin Hood Hotel, where George Fotherby's band played.

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"Special modifications" will have to be made by the Air Ministry to its plans for an estate of 165 permanent houses at Winthorpe RAF Station, Newark Rural District Council was told, for the Air Ministry's plans overlap part of the route of the proposed Great North Road Newark bypass.

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Electricity has developed so rapidly that few people now remember the early lamps in which there was no connecting cap but just two loops of wire projecting through the glass envelope.

Mr Edward Ronald Sellars of Elm Avenue, Newark, foreman electrician at Ransome and Marles Bearing Co Ltd, is only 52 but he remembers them well, for it was one such bulb that started him on the path which led to the appearance of his name on the New Year Honours List of 1954.

The award of the British Empire Medal is in recognition of the great help that his numerous electrical devices have been in improving the quality of Ransome and Marles products and increasing productivity at the works.