Stalls show plenty to do in town

More than 60 organisations and clubs set up stalls either in the Market Place or in the Town Hall to help promote what they do.

Newark Allotment and Gardens Society displayed freshly-picked vegetables to help encourage more people to try growing their own produce.

Newark Amateur Operatic Society showed footage of their latest production, and the Southwell Diocesan Guild of Bellringers brought along some handbells.

Other organisations represented included Beaumond House Community Hospice, Newark Bridge Club, the Friends of Newark Cemetery, and Newark Twinning Association.

There was even a stand to help promote Nottinghamshire County Council’s fostering service, and a stand about classes organised by the Workers’ Educational Association.

Boating enthusiast Mr Les Reid displayed old photographs of Newark’s river-based industry.

Mr Reid, as featured in last week’s Advertiser, is leading a project to buy an old barge and turn it into a floating museum for the town.

The sporting world was well represented with displays by Newark Rugby Club and Newark Athletic Club, which was promoting this summer’s half-marathon.

There was the chance to have a body MoT courtesy of Newark and Sherwood District Council’s sports development team.

Mr Kiyth Fotitt, the club instructor for the Bujinkan Brian Dojo, whose members gave two demonstrations in the main arena and were on hand to tell people about the club, praised the concept of Newark Day, but said he would like to see even more youth groups participating.

“There are a lot of youth groups in the town and this would have been an ideal showcase for them all,” he said.

Mrs Mary Walton (72) of Lincoln Road, Newark, a supporter of the hospice, was impressed with the event and said it had been nice to see so many people attend.

“There is an awful lot of hard work goes on in this town that no one knows about so something like this is ideal,” she said.

An eye-catching collage of Newark Castle was created at Newark Day using items that might otherwise have been destined for the dustbin.

The project was overseen by artist Jayne Foat, of Long Bennington, who was working for Newark’s Unique Coffee Bar and Scrap Store.

She is pictured (above left) working on the collage with Adele Tannah (12) of Newark, and Melissa Barnett (15) of Newark.

Jayne Foat said they started with a large blank canvas with an outline of the castle and then encouraged visitors to add a sky, river and gardens, using cast-off materials, such as cardboard, paper and tubes.

She said children and adults alike added to the picture, set up at the entrance to The Buttermarket shopping centre.

“It’s been a great collaboration with all sorts of people from the age of 21/2 upwards,” she said.