The Advertiser has opened its archives to see what was making the news this week 25, 50 and 100 years ago.
25 years ago – May 28, 1999
ABOVE: Newark’s award-winning NSK-RHP Ransome Brass Band is globe-trotting again.
Two years after playing in Japan to mark the 80th anniversary of parent company NSK, the band jets off to the Us take part in the prestigious Glenn Miller Festival.
The band has been invited to perform two concerts at the festival, held in the bandleader’s home town of Clarinda, Iowa.
• Evidence that a large wild cat could be roaming the countryside around Newark was growing as two more people claimed to have seen the creature.
Mrs Eunice Ince, of Middleton Road, Newark, told how she saw a long, sleek jet black animal while walking her golden retrievers on a countryside road north of the A1133.
And Mrs Kate Evans, of North Scarle, said she saw a large black cat one afternoon in a field outside her Besthorpe home.
• Plans to use the refurbished chapel in Newark Cemetery as a visitor centre are being investigated by the town council.
The centre could feature display boards and video and computer images focusing on the history of the cemetery, its Commonwealth War Graves and their place in Newark’s history.
Town Clerk Mr Pierre Bibby said their was a great deal of interest in the Polish war graves and the it attracted a high number of visitors, including coach parties, so the use of the cemetery chapel as a visitor centre could provide a valuable asset.
• Royal Mail has been criticised for replacing a Victorian letter box in Newark.
Royal Mail said the box, at the corner of Cartergate and Beaumond Cross, could no longer cope with the volume of mail and customers had asked for a larger one.
• The renovated War Memorial Archway in Bishop's Drive, Southwell, was rededicated in a 15-minute sevice.
About 100 people, including members of the Royal British Legion, the town council, fire service, Scouts and Guides, the Boys’ Brigade and churchgoers, attended the rededication.
50 years ago – June 1, 1974
ABOVE: Hundreds of visitors, many of them dressed in old world costumes, crowded the streets of Collingham for a country fair.
It was to raise money to restore an old schoolroom in Queen Street as a youth and community centre.
Following in his father’s footsteps was Patrick Blore, 7, who entered the fancy dress contest wearing the herald’s costume that his father, Walter, wore 37 years ago at a pageant to commemorate the coronation of King George VI.
• A call to all ratepayers’ associations, already formed or about to be formed, in the Newark District Council area was made by the newly-formed Newark Ratepayers’ Association, asking them to join in their rates protest.
At a public meeting the 30 people present formed themselves into an association.
Among the suggestions at the meeting was a deputation to see the Prime Minister and put their proposals to him.
• Ratepayers in Newark will not get their demand notices until next week at the earliest because the rating system has had to be adapted to go on the county computer.
The district treasurer said this had meant a lot of work in the rating section and had delayed the sending out of the notices.
• A 21¾-acre site owned by Newark District Council in Southwell was said to be worth £1/4m and if it was sold for housing development.
The site lies between Fiskerton Road and Crew Lane and is earmarked for future housing – unless Nottinghamshire County Council decides to build a bypass road on it.
Mr Brian Warwick said it seemed ridiculous, when rates were going up and up, to be sitting on this land awaiting a decision on the bypass.
• Train fares between Newark and Nottingham are to go up by 2p from June 23. The single fare will be 26p.
The increases are aimed at containing the British Railways Board’s deficit.
100 years ago – May 28, 1924
A proposal by the Rev H. Gorse that a special sub-committee be appointed to collect and consider information in regard to the possibility of commencing an open-air school, was passed by the Newark Education Committee.
The Rev Gorse explained his great concern for the well-being of children with a tendency to tuberculosis, and said how beneficial a school of this nature would be.
Several members spoke in approval, including Alderman Priestley who pointed out it was the duty of the county council to deal with consumptives.
• A record religious pageant – and Empire Thanksgiving Service was held at Wembley Stadium attended by the King and Queen.
The whole programme of this historic occasion was broadcast and was clearly received in Newark despite the presence of local storms.
The only outward celebrations of Empire Day in Newark took place at the schools on Friday. There was no reference at the Parish Church on Sunday and for once Newark seemed to fall behind in its traditional display of loyalty and patriotism.
Happily, the celebrations at the school evoked much enthusiasm from the children who, in many ways, were shown the vastness of the British Empire.
• The annual supper and social of the YMCA Football Club was held when a large company of players and friends gathered as guests of the officials and committee.
After supper, the remaining time was spent in dancing, music and games.
• In order to cope with their ever-widening field of business in Newark and district, Messrs Barclays Bank have had desire to seek new premises in Newark.
The old office at the corner of Stodman Street and Castlegate have long been too ‘cribbed, cabined and confined’ and the head office deemed it necessary to have larger premises.
A site was obtained at 27 Stodman Street and alterations are now complete.
