What was making the news in the Newark Advertiser in 1923, 1973 and 1998
The Advertiser has once again opened its archives to see what was making the news this week 25, 50 and 100 years ago.
25 years ago – October 30, 1998
ABOVE: The 1st Collingham Brownie pack celebrated its 70th birthday.
Parents joined the Brownie at a special meeting at Collingham Scout and Guide Hut for the cutting of the birthday cake.
And the next day all 24 members spent the day in London sightseeing.
• Newark and Sherwood College has hooked up with Cyprus via the internet as part of a technology education initiative called NetDays Europe 98.
Students and staff are using email to communicate with a college called the Pancyprian Lyceum of Larnaca with whom a joint website has been set up.
The aim is to promote the concepts of networking and shared learning and improve computer skills by encouraging students to research their project work by using internet sources.
• Newark’s Afro-Caribbean community celebrated the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush with a special evening at the Caribbean centre on Queen’s Road.
A special guest at the celebrations, which was attended by more than 50 people, was Afro-Caribbean journalist, broadcaster and author Mike Phillips.
• The revolutionary eco-homes at Hockerton have been given the government’s seal of approval.
Construction minister Mr Nick Raynsford officially opened the underground development. He said the whole country could learn from what had been achieved there.
It has taken five years for the five families who make up the Hockerton Housing Project to build their self-sufficient earth-sheltered homes that rely on nature to meet all their needs.
• Bronze wall plaques designed like Civil War siege pieces will be used to mark a heritage trail in Newark town centre.
The trail, which will cost £12,000, will record important people and events in the town’s history and there will be an accompanying booklet.
50 years ago – November 3, 1973
Above: A sign of the times from these youngsters who were enthralled by model diesel trains at Newark Railway Society’s annual exhibition at the town hall.
• The fight to save Newark’s 72-bed hospital has been won. This is the verdict of the town’s mayor, Alderman Mrs Elizabeth Yorke, after the latest letter from the Department of Health and Social Security.
It says there is no proposal to reduce the services at Newark Hospital and no such proposal is contemplated.
It added, ultimately, it may be that the existing hospitals will be replaced by a new building on one site.
• Newark Town Council has agreed to a site meeting to decide where to put Beaumond Cross.
A site near Supasave had been suggested but members agreed that would be unsuitable. The Mayor, Mrs Elizabeth Yorke, said that site was one of the worst places in the town and to put an ancient monument there would be sacrilege.
• It had to happen. On the one night when Newark firemen wanted to be left in peace, the alarm bells clanged twice.
Luckily, both calls came at the end of the fire brigade’s Halloween Dance at the Boundary Road station.
The seven duty firemen were about to start the washing up after helping serve food and drinks when the alarm sounded.
• Small shops were defended against supermarkets at the annual dinner dance of Newark, Southwell and District Grocers’ Association.
“We are proud to give personal service,” said president Mr Ray Harris, owner of a shop on Grange Road, Newark.
Main guest, the Mayor of Newark, Mrs Elizabeth Yorke, said traders’ personal service and courtesy would boost Newark to one of the chief shopping towns in the midlands by 1983.
She said: “People are fed up with going to huge shops where nobody takes any notice of them. They would sooner come to Newark.”
Shopping in the town was not just buying goods, she said, it offered a chance to meet people and find out what was going on.
100 years ago – October 31, 1923
• There were some amusing moments at Newark Borough Police Court when Ernest Alfred James, no fixed abode, was summoned for failing to maintain his wife and daughter.
Defendant called himself a showman but the only show he ever had anything to do with was a perambulator and gramophone, with which he toured the countryside soliciting alms.
His wife and daughter were living in common lodging houses. Since they parted James had sent no money to his wife.
He was sent to prison for 14 days.
• The second Southwell Ploughing Match since the war, held in connection with the Southwell Farmers’ Union, scored a success.
A gusty day with driving showers did not conduce to a large crowd but the committee must have been well satisfied with the results of their labours when proceedings came to a close.
• It is evident that members of the Newark Wesleyan Circuit believe in hitching their wagon to a star: the result of their two days bazaar was the collection of £858 13s 6d.
The Town Hall, flanked with its attractive stalls, presented an entrancing scene – especially to the eyes of the ladies – and there was a large attendance at the opening ceremony.
• For riding a motorcycle down Beacon Hill Road, Newark, at 25mph, Eric Thurman was fined 10s.
Defendant said he was pushed for time as he had had a breakdown and did not want to be late for work.
