Groups show what they can offer

Crowds filled the Market Place on Sunday for the fourth annual Newark Day that gave local organisations and groups the chance to show what they have to offer.

The event was started by former town councillor Mr David Nixon when he was Mayor of Newark and has become a regular fixture.

More than 70 stalls were used in the Market Place and in the ballroom and council chamber of the Town Hall by groups ranging from Newark Music Club and Newark Twinning Association to Newark Athletic Club and the Guiding Association.

Newark Allotments and Gardening Society had its usual stall at the entrance to The Buttermarket. It had a display of fruit and vegetables freshly cropped from some of the town’s allotments. Children were given a free tomato plant.

The society chairman, Mrs Gillie Wilkinson, said there had been a lot of interest from people who wanted to have a go at growing their own produce. Mrs Wilkinson said Newark Day was a good opportunity to publicise the many organisations in the town.

“It’s hard work but there has been a lot of interest today,” she said.

The Friends of Newark Cemetery showed photographs of different views of the cemetery and were publicising their forthcoming open day on June 27.

Volunteers from Newark and District Multiple Sclerosis Information and Support Centre had a display of the help they offer. They are looking for 12 businesses to keep the centre going by asking them to each donate £1,000 a year.

Staff from Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust were recruiting people to become members of its foundation trust. At least 50 new members signed up on the day.

Visitors were asked to identify unusual objects brought along from Newark’s Millgate Museum. They included a Victorian gadget used by knitters to hold their needles and an apple-corer made from bone.

The museum also displayed old photographs of shops in the town.

Mr Les Reid, of the Friends of Newark Heritage Barge, put on a display detailing his hopes to turn an old Trent barge into a floating museum at the Town Wharf.

The barge is moored at the bottom of his garden off Farndon Road. Invited groups can visit.

An arena was created in the centre of the Market Place and used for demonstrations. It started with a Ninjutsu display by Bujinkan Brian Dojo, which meets at the 6th Newark Scout headquarters at Farndon.

It also included dancing from Newark Scottish Country Dancers and children from the J. and S. Dance Company; gymnastics from the Castle Grove Gymnastics Club and demonstrations by Fernwood Sword Club and Ice Diamonds Cheerleaders.

Newark radio station Boundary Sound provided commentary and ran a roadshow and competitions.