What was making the news in the Newark Advertiser in 1924, 1974 and 1999
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 - December 10, 1999
ABOVE: A Newark and Sherwood village school is one of the best in the country according to the Government's primary school league tables.
Halam Church of England School scored a total of 294 points out of a possible 300 to the delight of the headteacher and staff.
* A fire-raiser is plaguing a condemned council estate. On Wednesday night, Newark firefighters tackled three blazes in two hours on Coddington's Harvey Avenue estate.
Now they fear that lives may soon be lost.
The blazes are being linked to at least two other house fires on the estate known locally as Coddington Camp which is being demolished to make way for a new development
* Two replica brewery signs destined for Millgate, Newark, are to be hung in a student bar at the University of Nottingham.
The signs were originally made to adorn the entrance pillars of a homes development in Millgate called Cooper’s Yard.
But the planning condition was never enforced and the signs now feature in the bar of the university’s Newark Hall, housing block, officially opened by the Queen yesterday.
* Huntsmen and shooting enthusiasts came together to show that unity between the two groups is essential for their future survival.
About 80 people, members of the South Notts Hunt, the Grove and Rufford Hunt and the Screveton Shoot met at the Royal Oak, Screveton.
* Campaigners have not given up hope of saving 25- acres of grassland on the former Balderton Hospital site.
That is despite a revised draft planning brief saying that much of it can be built on.
It comes after talks between council officers, developers David Wilson Homes and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. They had been aiming to strike a balance between keeping as much of the conservation value of the grassland as possible while not prejudicing the development
50 years ago - December 14, 1974
ABOVE: Pupils of the John Blow School, Collingham, pictured during a scene from their Nativity play.
* The interest in the Christmas lights makes it a distinct possibility that in future years all Newark’s centre may be illuminated.
Newark Chamber of Trade said there had been many inquiries from stores about lights for their premises.
* Newark’s Elmhurst Hotel is to be used for housing homeless families, Newark District Council housing services decided.
Originally, the committee had agreed to buy the hotel and convert it into 15 flatlets for single people at rents that would not involve a loss to the housing revenue account.
* During the bread crisis the Newark branch of the WRVS travelled to Nottingham to collect 250 loaves and, with the help of Age Concern, distributed them to old people’s homes and elderly housebound people.
* Soup, hot dogs and coffee were among the items on sale when 1st Southwell Guides staged a Christmas market in a disused Southwell shop.
The market made £20, half of which will go to the Guides Friendship Fund for Helping the Aged and the other half to the Guides.
* A coin-operated photocopying machine has been installed in Newark Library to enable members of the public to make their own copies.
* The cost of Newark’s Potterdike carpark may soon be doubled to 10p.
It was pointed out it was very reasonable for parking a car for an unlimited time.
100 years ago - December 10, 1924
The scheme for improving the watercourse of the Trent in order that boats of heavy draught can get as far up the river as Nottingham is nearing completion.
Contracts have been placed relating to the reconstruction of the Nether Lock at Newark - known locally as the Bottom Lock. Once completed, it will see the end of lock construction so far as this scheme is concerned.
* Reference was made at a special sitting of Newark Borough magistrates to the large number of men who abscond, or at least attempt to abscond, from Newark Workhouse before completing the task given to them to do.
Two young bearded casuals were brought up in custody and both admitted the offence.
* Newark Board of Guardians offered no objection to the installation of wireless at Newark Workhouse, the cost to be defrayed by the Brabazon Society.
The chairman said it would be a boon to the old people provided they didn’t sit up until 11 to hear the Savoy Band!
* The appropriate Christmas present this year seems to be something connected with wireless. The demand at the moment is beyond all expectations and the difficulty is to fill the demands.
* A large appreciative audience assembled in the Old Southwell Theatre to see a large selection (over 100) of lantern slides illustrating the Norman and Pre-Norman work in some 30 Notts churches by Mr Alfred J. Loughton, followed by some fine slides of the latest direct colour photography.
* An enjoyable dance organised by the committee of Messrs Ransome and Marles Sport and Social Club was held in the town hall.
About 140 were present and dancing was kept up to the joyous strains of Burton’s Syncopated Orchestra until the early hours of Saturday morning.
