March 30, 1955

Nearly submerged by the swirling waters of the Trent on Monday were caravans parked near the Britannia Inn at Farndon.

The floods prevented normal access to the inn and a hole was made in a boundary fence at the rear of the premises to admit customers.

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

Young people of Newark are to try self help in interior decoration - at the instigation of the town council.

The Youth Leaders' Council asked the corporation to consider redecorating their hut premises at the rear of Northgate House - but the estates committee decided instead to offer the materials for the youth organisations to do the work themselves.

Councillor Miss D. V. A. Baker, who is chairman of the Youth Leaders' Council, said: "I can assure the members of this council that the young people will be pleased to do their own spring cleaning, and I know they will wish me to convey to the council their thanks for providing the materials with which to do it."

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

A suggestion that proposals for structural alterations to Newark Town Hall should be dovetailed with the plan for a public hall over a new arcade of shops was made at the town council's meeting on Monday by councillor Dr Denys Hine, in whose mayoralty the hall scheme was launched.

The council approved the committee's decision to obtain an estimate of the cost of the alterations which include the conversion of a large committee room into a new Mayor's Parlour - and to refer it to an informal meeting of the council.
 

March 23, 1955

When the circus ended for most of the 6,000 people in the centrally-heated big top at Lincoln on Saturday, it was not over for the 40 finalists in the Junior Advertiser king-and-queen competition.

After the ring show, they were taken behind the scenes to meet the animals and artists of Billy Smart's fabulous circus.

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

Five-years-old Newark children who start their schooling this term may have to walk a mile to school.

The only place in the south end of the town where children reaching five before Easter can be accommodated is the Christ Church Infants' School in Victoria Street.

Development of the Hawton Road estate has been quicker than expected, and the two infants' schools which normally serve the area are full.

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

Two former Army officers together in the first hours of the 1944 Allied landings in Europe met in Newark on Monday.

One, Major R. J. Howard, was the speaker at Newark Rotary Club meeting. The other, Captain H. R. K. Neilson, of the Old Vicarage, East Stoke, was among his audience.

The subject of the Major's talk was the classic operation in which they took part together - the capture of two bridges on the River Orme and the Caen Canal.

Major Howard was then in command of a glider battalion in the 6th Airborne Division. Captain Neilson commanded a party of Royal Engineers accompanying them.
 

March 16, 1955

Lambing season brings farmworker Luigi Desantis, into the picture at Kelham Home Farm. He is really a cowman at the farm, but has been helping out with the lambing.

It is not so long ago that England was as much a strange new world to Luigi as it is to the new lamb.

An Italian soldier, he was taken prisoner by the British early in the war - at Bardia in 1940.

When his barbed-wire days ended, he stayed on in England as an agricultural worker.

In 1950 he met in Nottingham a childhood friend from his village near Rome. She was working at a Nottingham factory.

In the same year Luigi and Vera were married at Bingham Church.

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

When an aircraft from RAF Syerston developed engine trouble the pupil pilot made a forced landing at Bottesford airfield.

The aerodrome is used for the storage of bombs which are piled on the runways.

The aircraft managed to avoid them and landed safely. There was no serious damage or injury.

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

Books dealing with courtship and sex relations have been on sale in Southwell Minster for several years and in all that time, says the provost, the Very Rev H. C. L. Heywood, he has heard of only one person who thought they should not be exposed publicly for sale.

That was a Southwell parent. Writing in the Twenty Churches Magazine, the provost says young people who might be too shy to ask for such books at a shop can obtain them from the minster bookstall.
 

March 9, 1955

A specialist in long service, Mr H. Waite, of Lime Grove, Newark, completed 30 years as organist at Albert Street Baptist Chapel, Newark, on Sunday.

Almost exactly a year ago he completed 40 years service with J. C. Stanger, grocers, of Stodman Street. A presentation of a leather music case and a book containing signatures and tributes of church members, officials and ministers was made by Rev J. A. Pollard.

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

A list is to be complied in Newark of men and women who would be prepared to help at a moment's notice in the event of any peace-time emergency.

They will not be asked to undergo any training and can be of any age.

The list will be drawn up by the WVS and a copy will be given to the police with telephone numbers where possible. The scheme is to cope with emergencies caused by floods, fires or large scale road or air crashes.

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

Facing eviction from the gardens which, in some cases, have been in their families for more than 60 years are the 105 plot-holders on the Hawton Road allotments, Newark.

The land, privately owned, is scheduled for private enterprise building and the owners now propose to make a start on the long-planned houses.

All the tenants have signed agreements under which they are bound to evict their allotments when the land is required for building.

They have already received provisional notice to quit and are expecting final notice to be served within the next few weeks.
 

March 2, 1955

Newark Round Table met Retford Round Table in a public speaking contest at the Great Northern Hotel, Newark.

Those taking part were: Mr A. Howes, Newark; Mr R. Peatson, Retford; Mr G. H. Redfern, Newark; Mr A. Skaith, Newark chairman; Mr C. E. Parlby, Newark umpire; Mr R. Evans, Retford; Mr G. Beardall, Retford chairman; Mr R. Bamforth, Retford; and Mr A. G. Hine, Newark. The contest was won by Newark.

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

The fabric of Newark's historic parish church is causing grave concern and the repairs that are likely to be necessary to preserve it will probably cost about £10,000. Mr H. M. L. Hutchinson, presiding at the church's annual meeting, said a detailed survey was in progress.

"It is likely that this will reveal the need for extensive repair and for expenditure far beyond the resources of our fabric fund," he said.

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

Parish councillors have decided that Collingham must have a new fire engine and a new fire station.

Mr C. M. Fordham (South Collingham) said the fire service had demonstrated one of the big new-type fire engines.

"We were rather concerned because we do not think they could get it down any of our lanes," he said. Mr W. F. Bailey (North Collingham) thought the new-type engine would be unable to get close to most of the farms because of its low chassis which would not permit it to travel over rough ground.

A final decision will be agreed between the parish councils and the fire service.