February 24, 1954

Newark's Town Crier, Mr Bert Hall, made one of his rare official appearances in the town's streets on Monday when he cried notice of the Mayor's public hall meeting.

Newark's public hall, a dream for at least 20 years, came one stage nearer at the meeting called by the Mayor, Dr Denys Hine, after the town council had refused to support a hall fund.

The meeting decided after two hours of discussion that a fund should be established.

Only about 120 people attended the meeting, in the ballroom of the Town Hall, but many of them represented organisations with large memberships.

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Five cattle strayed on to the railway line near Tolney Lane, Newark, on Wednesday and one was killed by the 5.55pm Newark to Nottingham train.

Six trains, two from Nottingham and four from Lincoln, were held up by 30 to 45 minutes.

It was dark and the driver of the 5.55 did not know the beast were on the line until he felt the engine hit one of them.

The cattle belonged to Mr E. Barker, a dairyman of Muskham Road, Newark. The dead animal, a bullock, was valued at about £45.

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Why is it, when there is more religion in the schools and universities, that fewer men are anxious to become clergymen asked Dr Russell Barry, Bishop of Southwell, at the Church Assembly on Wednesday. In the public mind, he said, finances were a deterrent.

But, added Dr Barry, the newly ordained man was not badly off.

"The unmarried deacon has a great deal more pocket money to spend than I have," he said.
 

February 17, 1954

Newark has led Whitehall in the mechanisation of the Sherwood Foresters, said Lieutenant-Colonel G. P. Gofton-Salmond, commanding officer of the 8th (Motor) Battalion at the annual dinner of The Sherwood Foresters' Association at the Ram Hotel, Newark.

He said that although the regiment's two regular battalions had only recently become motor battalions, the local territorial unit had been one since its re-forming after the war.

"I think we should congratulate Whitehall on following our excellent example with the regular battalions," he said.

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All four clock faces on the tower of Newark Parish Church will be showing the time as usual tomorrow - but it will be the last time for several months. And when the church bells ring this week it will be the last time until the summer.

Dismantling of the bells - the ten-strong peal is the pride of Newark - begins next Monday. They are to be brought down and taken to Loughborough for new fittings.

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Nearly a quarter of the licences in the area controlled by Newark County Magistrates have changed hands in the last year it was stated at the annual licensing sessions.

The presiding magistrate, Colonel J. S. C. Oates, warned licensees to be careful when serving drinks to customers who were going to drive and he emphasised that in clubs guests were not permitted to pay for their own drinks. Police Superintendent R.

Youngs reported that during the year five people had been convicted for drunkenness. This was four more than the previous year - and the four were Irish casual labourers who were found drunk and fighting together.

The other case was of a resident drunk in charge of a pedal cycle.
 

February 10, 1954

In just under three weeks, two men - Mr T. Baxter and Mr B. Berridge - have completely demolished the old building that stood on the corner of Stodman Street and Middlegate, Newark.

Wisely, they left the central fireplace till last, and it was still surrounded by enough wall and ceiling to provide a welcome shelter from the icy winds. Soon only the iron fireplace remained erect in a sea of rubble.

This simplified fuelling - long pieces of wood could be pushed in from the top instead of being broken into smaller pieces for placing through the front.

"So we've been able to have a warm every lunchtime while we've been here," said Mr Baxter.

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Coke came off ration yesterday, but it is not thought demand will create a shortage in Newark and district, despite the cold weather. Newark is virtually self supporting in coke.

The town's gas works produces more than 30 tons a day - somewhere approaching 250 tons a week - and this figure adequately covers average sales.

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Miss Christine Coton (15) of Water Lane, Oxton, has been chosen for her charm and personality to represent the Midland Counties in the finals for the title of the Queen of Toyland.

This entitles her to six days' holiday at Brighton where the result will be decided. The winner will receive a prize of £100.

The competition is organised by the British Toyland Manufacturers Ltd.

February 3, 1954

At the end of the coldest week for several years, nearly 100 Newark workers became temporarily unemployed - because of the mildness of the winter.

On Monday, they signed on for a week at Newark Labour Exchange. Throughout this week, the production side of Cooper and Co, of Victoria Street, makers of high-quality dressing-gowns, coats and other clothing for women and children, is idle.

The reason is a temporary recession of trade due almost certainly to the mildness of the winter up to the past week or so, which caused a pile-up in the shops of the type of garments produced at the factory.

To the workers who shivered as they waited to register at the Labour Exchange, this must have seemed ironic. But the snow and ice around them represented their best chance of a quick return to full production.

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There was an ice hockey match on Flintham Lake at the weekend when South Clifton beat Flintham 27-8. Scorers for Clifton, whose team consisted of three skaters and two goalkeepers, were Mick Hare, Geoff Scott and Ken Scott. This is the first time South Clifton have been able to play this year. They played once last winter.