Bygones: What was making the news in the Newark Advertiser in 1997, 1972 and 1922
The Advertiser has opened its archives to see what was making the news this week 25, 50 and 100 years ago.
Fifty years ago, a postman was mounting a lone vigil in the branches of a tree in Devon Park, Newark, to try to save it from the chop.
And back in 1922, a speeding motorist faced court for driving motor vehicle with a trailer at 12mph.
25 years ago — August 8, 1997
Above: Pupils at Chuter Ede Primary School, Balderton, returned to school, despite it being the holidays.
They attended a week-long summer playscheme organised to provide properly supervised.
Pictured developing ceramic painting skills are 11-year-olds Charlotte Taylor, Leigh Smallwood, Karen Brumby and Leanda Donelly.
A major new think-tank is being set up to stimulate ideas to keep Newark town centre thriving as it faces the challenges of the future.
In one of the town’s biggest ever initiatives, representatives from 30 groups will be asked how best to make Newark a magnet for the millennium at the Newark Town Centre Forum.
It is likely to include future plans for pedestrianisation, carparking and tackling litter problems.
Angry residents who live on a road they say motorists use as a rat-run turned out in force to voice their concerns.
Around 30 people living on Halloughton Road, Southwell, met a group of highways chiefs, councillors and Labour MP Fiona Jones.
They want to slow down traffic and reduce the risk of injuries to children, many of whom use the busy road to walk to school.
The waiting is almost over for the families moving into one of Britain’s most revolutionary housing developments in Hockerton.
The project, to live in an ecologically-friendly and environmentally low impact way, is a dream that is about to become reality for five families.
A bank of soil will be created to cover the tops and backs of the houses, giving them extra insulation.
50 years ago — August 12, 1972
Above: About 45 children entered a fancy dress competition at the Grove Sports Centre, Balderton.
It was organised by the Grove Playgroup leaders, Mr John Loughton and Mr Andrew Chambers.
Fire gutted a floating discotheque moored off Whitehouse’s Wharf, Millgate, Newark.
The boat, Sujo, has been used as a discotheque for two months and accommodated 60 people.
It was originally a ferry boat in the north-east and had been converted at a cost of £6,000.
A solitary elm is still standing in Devon Park, Newark, thanks to a 9½-hour vigil in the branches kept by postman Andrew Boggie.
The day-long drama included calls to the police, visits from town council officials for ground-to-tree negotiations, a massive bonfire, lunch on the bough, and a quiet read of the latest best-selling novel, The Godfather.
A Newark firm is bringing in a four-day week. It plans to pay employees more money and shorten the working week — all as part of a scheme to keep workers happy.
The firm, Ragamuffin Ltd, of Lombard Street, is so confident that employee happiness will boost production that plans are already in hand for obtaining new premises and doubling the workforce.
Newark Castle Cycling Club member Stan Snyder, 27, clocks up about 8,000 miles a year on his bike.
Most men would be ready for a holiday after that ration of competitive cycling — but not Stan.
When he went on holiday to Cornwall, he pedalled all the way. His wife, Margaret, went by car.
100 years ago — August 9, 1922
Newark, in common with other places in the Midlands, had August Bank Holiday thwarted by torrential rain.
Holiday excursions into the country and day trips to the coast were unthinkable to the sober mind.
Streets were running streams, cellars flooded, ceilings damaged, and many homes made miserable and uncomfortable.
A motorist was summoned to court for driving a heavy motor vehicle with a trailer at a speed exceeding 6mph.
In a measured mile on the Great North Road at Long Bennington he was going at 12mph.
Defendant’s excuse was that he was not aware there was a five miles limit.
He was fined 10s
The annual Sunday school feast in connection with the South Collingham Church was held.
Fortunately, the weather was fine and the numerous scholars and teachers, after having a sumptuous tea at the Rectory, adjourned to the Cricket Field where games of all descriptions were indulged in until a late hour.
About 5pm last evening a boy was with other boys playing on the Town Wharf when by some means or other he fell in the river.
Luckily, a boy named Cyril Judson, 8, living in the Tenter Buildings, Appletongate, seeing what had happened immediately laid down and reached the boy, pulling him to the side and on to the bank again.
Great credit is due to young Judson for his prompt action, thereby saving the boy from being drowned.
