What was making the news in the Newark Advertiser in 1924, 1974 and 1999
The Advertiser has opened its archives to see what was making the news this week 25, 50 and 100 years ago.
25 years ago – February 5, 1999
ABOVE: Leading figures from Southwell Minster will swap their robes and cassocks for stage costumes to perform in Babes In The Wood – the first pantomime ever to be staged in the cathedral’s Great Hall.
The pantomime stars the four minster vergers – Mr John Meredith (Little John) Mr Andrew Todd (Andy O’Dale) Mr Richard Legg (Dick Scarlet) and Mr David Richardson (Friar Tuck).
The minster’s accounts officer, Louise Walker, will play the thigh-slapping Robin Hood.
• A new football stadium could be built in Newark – with Newark Town FC leading the way.
First team manager Paul Baggaley said: “We are interested in developing a site which would permit the erection of a small stadium to include floodlights, stands, changing facilities and clubhouse.”
Because the club has no home of its own, its ten teams play on various pitches around the town.
• All but one resident from South Muskham Prebend old people’s home in Southwell joined a 200-strong march through the town.
Most had to be pushed in wheelchairs but they were determined to make their voices heard and waved banners as they went.
• Pupils at a Newark school have come up with some bright ideas for the future of the town’s abandoned BMX track.
Among the suggestions from the Magnus Church Of England School for the Bowbridge Road track are an ice skating rink, a motocross track and a cinema.
More realistic proposals include a fenced-off adventure play area, a skateboard track, and more flower beds and proper paths.
• The first phase of £1m extensions to the Minster School, Southwell, were officially opened by the Archbishop of York, the Most Rev David Hope – just three weeks after flood swept through much of the area.
Headteacher Mr Philip Blinston said a team of cleaners had been working non-stop on the site evert since and although much of it is uncarpeted, their efforts ensured it was ready for the Archbishop’s arrival.
50 years ago – February 9, 1974
ABOVE: Brownies Helen Vickers, 8, and sister Sally, 7, add their contributions to the pile of toys donated by children for the Save The Children Fund at a toy service at Newark Parish Church.
• The announcement of a General Election on February 28 has sent the political parties swinging into action.
Shortages of cash has halted the Liberal bid in Newark, where there would have been the first three-cornered fight since 1950.
A big headache for the agents mounting their instant election campaigns will be getting their election material posted to the public.
There are only 19 days before polling, making it a frantic February for party officers.
• Plans for the merging of the Southwell Minster Grammar School and the Edward Cludd Secondary School to form a comprehensive got a mixed reception at a public meeting in Southwell.
Many seemed to be in favour. The biggest fear was that of size. Some thought children would be overwhelmed in a large comprehensive school and feared a lack of discipline and a decline in teaching standards.
• Woolworth’s Newark store was cleared in two minutes after a bomb scare.
Newark police received a warning that a bomb had been planted in the store and immediately went into action.
The premises were searched but nothing suspicious was found.
• A plaque is to be fixed to the wall of a house at 8 London Road, Balderton, to mark the birthplace of the late Sir Donald Wolfit.
100 years ago – February 6, 1924
There is a tragedy in the sight of our demobilised soldiers walking through the streets in vain search for employment – homeless, workless, hopeless.
Above all does their hapless plight appeal to the women of our land who feel at a loss how to help because, as a rule, they have neither the power of the purse-strings nor offices in which they can offer posts to our heroes.
• The significance of the fact that over 3,000 Newark boys and girls have now passed the Association Learners Test, as was announced at the distribution of awards of Newark Swimming Association at the Town Hall, is realised to the full by all those who have had experience of England’s Equator – the River Trent.
Each summer, bathing, fishing and boating draw huge crowds of children to the river and the water’s side and it is pleasing to know that if an emergency arises the majority of them can swim.
• A squadron social and dance to commemorate the opening of the A Squadron Recreation Club at the Barracks will be given at Hawton Road. Dancing will take place from 8.30pm to 1.30am.
• A householder of New Balderton was considerably startled on Thursday morning when going to his coal house is discovered a fox imprisoned inside.
It transpired that Raynard was a tame fox, one of a brace kept by a Newark institution, and it was restored to its rightful owners.
• Every lot offered at a property sale in the Public Hall at Collingham was disposed of.
A freehold country cottage with outbuildings and a large garden at Swinderby was knocked down for £300, farm buildings at South Collingham went for £250 and a piece of building land in South Collingham made £120.
Mr Challand bought a house and smith’s shop at Collingham for £720.
