What was making the news in the Newark Advertiser in 1923, 1973 and 1998
The Advertiser has opened its archives to see what was making the news this week 25, 50 and 100 years ago.
25 years ago – November 20, 1998
ABOVE: These two girls were among participants in an organised pillow fight at the Grove Leisure Centre, Balderton, in aid of Children In Need.
Louise Mumby, 9, and Anna Eason, 8, both of Newark, are pictured striking out during the fight, which was a number of activities at the centre that raised more than £100.
• A government minister has predicted a bright future for Newark.
Regeneration minister Mr Alan Meale made the comment after seeing projects designed to inject new life into the town.
Mr Meale visited the Kiln Warehouse on the banks of the River Trent, which British Waterways is transforming into 19,000sq ft of new office space.
• A chapter in Newark’s military history will close with the most radical overhaul of the Territorial Army since it was formed 80 years ago.
The 3rd Battalion of the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment, which had a platoon from Newark, will be replaced by a new East Anglian Battalion, which will have its headquarters in Chilwell.
• Parents who have been warned about bad parking near a Balderton school could be fined in future, parish councillors were told.
The council had discussed the problem of parking outside Chuter Ede School with the police, who agreed traffic wardens will patrol the area.
• Angry protesters packed a public meeting to quiz council council representatives who are planning to axe Southwell’s two elderly people’s homes.
Around 350 people attended the meeting in the Minster School over the plans to close the Old Vicarage and the South Muskham Prebend.
• Householders are being warned to be wary about letters offering free gifts in return for a telephone call.
Nottinghamshire trading standards says the letter sent from abroad promises an item on the page, including a £31,000 Mercedes car, had been earmarked for that person.
The phone call costs £1 a minute and will last about nine minutes.
50 years – November 24, 1973
ABOVE: Education minister Mrs Margaret Thatcher officially opened the £35,000 extensions to Aslockton’s Archbishop Cranmer Church of England school – without a whisper of discontent from parents who are angry at the rule that prevents their children travelling by school bus to Toot Hill Comprehensive at Bingham.
Mrs Thatcher is pictured cutting the opening tape watched by headmaster Mr Michael Twells, deputy head Mrs Howard Awberry and children from the infant department.
There were rumours that some of the parents who had been pressing for a school bus would stage a demonstration or hand a petition to Mrs Thatcher.
• The power crisis is tightening its grip in Notts and Lincolnshire as garages impose unofficial petrol rationing – and there are threats of cuts in street lighting.
Newark’s scheme to decorate the town centre with Christmas lights has been called off and local football matches are in jeopardy.
• A new electronic telephone exchange is to start operating in Collingham. Subscribers numbers and the exchange name are to be changed.
Collingham numbers will be prefixed by 892 and become six-figure Newark numbers.
The new exchange, costing £31,100 is off High Street and replaces the old one on Swinderby Road. Initially, the equipment will have capacity for 800 lines.
• Newark's highways and public works committee wants the Post Office to provide a public telephone box as well as a post box at Beacon Heights.
The committee is also trying to arrange a bus service for the estate.
100 years ago – November 21, 1923
The condition of roads so far as horse traffic is concerned has become so serious that a meeting of farmers, merchants and tradesmen was held at the Saracen’s Head, Southwell, where an assembly of nearly 100 unanimously protested against the continuation of this state of affairs.
Messrs Merryweather and Sons complaint was 90% of motor traffic came from the towns, a good proportion of cars being used for pleasure, and the local trader who had to use the roads for business purposes was severely handicapped.
An instance of eight horses coming down in one day was related by Mr Brodhurst who added that “horses are being driven from the roads.”
• Hearty congratulations were extended to the Mayor of Mayoress of Newark, Mr and Mrs W. K. Clarke, when friends from all parts of the town were entertained at the town hall as part of the Mayoral At Home.
The stone steps leading to the ballroom were carpeted for the occasion and upstairs there was a happy scene.
The Mayor and Mayoress welcomed their guests personally and tea was taken in an atmosphere of sociability to the strains of Mr F. S. Carle’s Band.
• A dramatic turn was given to a Liberal meeting convened in Newark for the purpose of considering the advisability of running a Liberal candidate in the Division.
Several speakers had spoken in favour of such a move when Mr Heaton, organising secretary to the local Labour Party, announced that the Labour Party already had a candidate in view.
By this startling and unexpected announcement, the issue of the meeting was considerably confused, but the original intention of the gathering, to run a candidate, was adhered to and carried out.
A conference was later held at the Ossington where efforts were made by the Liberal Party, during a protracted sitting, to secure the aid of the Labour Party.
This proved abortive, the Labour Party refusing to be side-tracked.
• The annual meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society was held in the Boys’ Schoolroom at Collingham and, although the weather was very bad, there was a fairly good attendance.
The Rev L. L. Price’s remarks on the curious customs of the Chinese and their very difficult language were listened to with great interest.
