June 23, 1954

A practical step in the provision of a Methodist Church for the big new council housing estate at Hawtonville, Newark, was taken on Saturday afternoon.

The treasurer of the Hawtonville Building Fund, Mr R. P. Blatherwick, cut the first turf on the site at the junction of Beech Avenue and Eton Avenue where, within a year, a £14,000 church will stand.

The hall, work on which has now begun, is the first stage of an ambitious plan. The second stage is the construction of the church itself. When complete, the first building will serve as a complete religious and youth centre for the estate.

o-o-o-O-o-o-o

Newark Fire Station has again been judged the most efficient in the Notts Fire Brigade. For the second year in succession - and the third time since the competition was instituted in 1948 - Newark firemen have been awarded the County Efficiency Trophy.

The trophy is awarded for all-round efficiency throughout the year.

o-o-o-O-o-o-o

Of the 33 Newark schoolchildren who took part in a cycle reliability trial on Saturday, 24 gained awards.

The trial was organised by Newark Road Safety Council to impress road safety on the minds of children.

The girls did better than the boys - the first three prizes went to Diana Graham (11) of Lover's Lane Junior School, Margaret Wing (13) of Mount Junior School and Margaret Staples (10) of Mount Junior School. 

June 16, 1954

Little villages make the big money as the 1954 summer fete season swings into stride. No sunshine, but on Saturday 400-strong Swinderby led the money-making with takings of more than £210.

Laxton (pop. 300) raised £120 and tiny Beckingham (pop. 250) made more than £80.

At one time, the village churchyard at Swinderby was looked upon as one of the best-kept in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

During the war and subsequently, its condition deteriorated - but now villagers are determined to bring it back to top line.

On Saturday, the committee staged its first big money-raising effort - a garden fete in the grounds of the old vicarage adjoining the eleventh-century church, now the home of Colonel H. N. Newsum.

o-o-o-O-o-o-o

For 24 rain-lashed hours, from Saturday evening, members of Newark Amateur Radio Society sat in their unheated, dimly-lighted tents 'speaking' in Morse to other amateurs operating in similar conditions all over Britain.

They were taking part, for the third year, in the annual National Field Day of the Radio Society of Great Britain, in which competitors have to make as many contacts with other operators as possible in 24 hours.

o-o-o-O-o-o-o

Named in the Birthday Honours list published on Thursday are a former Mayor of Newark and a former Mayoress.

Alderman B. L. Maule, Mayor in 1949, receives the Officership of the Order of the British Empire, and Mrs B. I. Appleby - whose husband, the late Major L. C. B. Appleby, was Mayor in 1926 - becomes a Member of the Order of the British Empire. 132564

June 9, 1954

Philip Clements of Collingham YFC who had a successful beef judging session at the Bath and West Show last week is seen in this Advertiser newsphoto taking part in a sheep shearing examination at the Danethorpe farm of Mr J. Richards on Thursday.

Don Kirk (Caunton YFC) and Philip Clements gained 3rd place whilst representing the East Midlands in the national beef cattle judging competition at the show on Friday.

o-o-o-O-o-o-o

After contesting a legacy for more than a year, Newark Hospital House Committee has won its case.

It will receive £15,000. And part of the money will pay for the deferred reconstruction of the Hawtonville Hospital - work which is to cost more than the erection of the original building.

The legacy is part of the estate of the late Mr J. Reynolds Hole, of Balderton, who died in 1927.

Newark Hospital House Committee was informed yesterday their claim had been approved by the High Court.

It was stated that £4,000 of the legacy would be used for a lift at Hawtonville. At present patients are carried from ground to first floor.

o-o-o-O-o-o-o

When the Archers arrived at the riding school of Thoresby Park it was raining heavier than it did all day, but Doris Archer was matter of fact and cheerful.

The organisers of the Newark Division Conservative fete looked sadly at the elaborate transport which they had arranged for the Archers' entrance and decided it was impossible to use it.

Jack and Peggy Archer inspected the brewery lorry on which had been built a perfect miniature bar - The Bull Ambridge.

But the rain poured down so the Archers climbed into the back of a Land Rover, drove into the main ring and moved to a microphone to talk to the crowd.

June 2 1954

Delay in the provision of children's equipment for the "miserable little plot" that serves as playground in the Lover's Lane area of Newark brought some sharp criticism for the parks committee at Monday's Town Council meeting.

Councillor W. Shore said: "In Lover's Lane, the children have no gardens to play in. On the new estates, some of the children have not only gardens but good open spaces nearby.

"The children of Lover's Lane have nothing except this miserable little plot, and although it is described as a playground, there is no facility for the young children to play."

 o-o-o-O-o-o-o

With 1,264 new houses completed since the war, Newark Town Council is turning its attention to slum clearance - and particularly to two black spot areas, one bounded by Albert Street, Lombard Street and Millgate and Boundary Road, and the other by Lincoln Street, Northgate, Appletongate and Queen's Road.

It is the latter area which is causing concern, and on Monday the council approved a recommendation that all housing in it should be reviewed as a start in the new drive on slum clearance.

o-o-o-O-o-o-o

Unaccompanied children under 14 are to be barred from admission to Newark Cattle Market, the town council has decided.

The cattle market committee had considered the desirability of the ban at the request of the RSPCA.