What was making the news in the Newark Advertiser in 1923, 1973 and 1998
The Advertiser has opened its archives to see what was making the news this week 25, 50 and 100 years ago.
25 years ago – September 18, 1998
ABOVE: A new venue helped bring new entries to this year’s Newark Produce Show.
Show steward Mr Melvyn Revill said the show at Newark High School’s Windsor Avenue site was one of the best.
The number of entries, about 450, was 75 up on last year.
Mr Revill is pictured with crafts judge Mrs Wendy Whitaker with one of the fine leeks.
• A Newark Waterways Festival is being planned to attract around 6,000 visitors and more than 250 boats to the town next June.
Newark and Sherwood District Council is in secret talks with British Waterways about the project, which will centre on the River Trent and the new Riverside Park development.
Live music, exhibitions and arts and crafts displays will be staged in marquees set up along the riverside.
• A contract is to be made for the repair of Southwell’s crumbling war memorial archway.
A decision to keep the historic memorial, rather than demolish and replace it, was made by the town council following years of heated debate in the town.
The memorial in Bishop’s Drive was erected 50 years ago to remember the town’s war dead.
Over the years it has deteriorated so much that parts of the stonework have fallen off.
• Newark and Sherwood District Council is to take full responsibility for the management of Newark Palace Theatre from April.
The theatre is currently jointly managed by the district and Newark Town Council.
• Real reindeer and Father Christmas will be attracting shoppers to Newark town centre at Christmas.
They are part of a promotions package costing at least £10,000. The package will also include the customary lights and entertainment.
50 years ago – September 23, 1973
ABOVE: Guides from Southwell and Bingham divisions combined for a parade and a service in Southwell Minster in which they renewed Guide and Brownie promises.
About 400 Guides were on parade.
• Pump makers Worthington-Simpson, of Balderton, is to begin a massive European sales drive.
Key men from the Lowfields works will be out in Common Market countries to prepare the ground for Worthington-Simpson’s pumps for Europe.
The project will cost hundreds of thousands of pounds but the aim is to capture a large slice of the lucrative European pump trade.
• Housewives will soon find a much narrower choice of food in the shops, predicts Mr Bill Drury, secretary of Newark and District Chamber of Trade.
He fears that world food shortages, plus shortages of tin plate and packaging materials mean that some brands will become harder to obtain.
• The Dragon’s Opponent. a four-part wartime serial, which was partly filmed in Newark, is to begin on BBC2.
Northern Road and British Gypsum’s Beacon Hill quarry were used to represent blitzed London.
• One of five members of a pop group that came third on the television talent programme Opportunity Knocks was former Newarker Dennis Stansall.
Dennis once played cornet in the RHP band and also ran his own local group, The Rockets. He is now a member of the Mint group.
100 years ago – September 19, 1923
• Two very small girl inmates of the Cottage Home of Newark Board of Guardians, aged four and five, decided to go for a walk, and the result for a time was consternation in the home and much worry for the foster-mother.
That no harm befell the children in their long walk on the Great North Road is a matter for congratulation.
Both are sturdy, happy-looking infants and that their long walk had no ill-effects on them was probably due to the fact that they are accustomed to walking considerable distances with the older children on Saturday afternoons when in the summer weather they go on rambles.
• The question of a new fire engine was again discussed at Southwell Parish Council.
The chairman pointed out there was a plentiful supply of water at all the hydrants and they had sufficient hose to reach every house and business premises in Southwell.
However, the council was under obligation to keep an engine for about 30 outlying homes and farms where, more often than not, there was no water to put out the fire.
After considerable discussion, it was decided to obtain prices and particulars of a fire engine recently placed on the market that extinguishes fire with chemicals.
• There was a large and interested attendance to watch the annual sports promoted by the Newark Swimming Association for the children attending the Newark Elementary Schools. including the various town and school championships, at the Tolney Lane Bathing Place.
• A fete and gala took place at Lowe’s Wong to help raise funds for Southwell Flower Show.
The 8th Sherwood Foresters band played a fine selection of music in the afternoon and evening.
The many sideshows were continual sources of interest and amusement and a large number of people patronised the gala.
Foremost was the bowling for a fine pig and a fowl, where competition was very keen.
