The Advertiser has opened its archives to see what was making the news this week 25, 50 and 100 years ago.
25 years – June 25, 1999
ABOVE: Demonstrating their performing skills are three of the youngsters who took part in a music festival at Bowbridge Infants’ School, Newark.
Pupils from nine schools in Newark, Farndon and Balderton took part.
Seven songs were chosen before the event for each school to learn and perform on the day.
• Forensic scientists were sifting through rubble left by an explosion that ripped through a terraced home, after ruling out a gas leak as the cause.
Welder Mr Colin Hammond escaped through the front door of his blazing home in Stanley Terrace, Newark, after the blast.
Police are yet to talk to Mr Hammond about the explosion, which destroyed his home and badly damaged a neighbour’s property, because of the extent of his injuries.
• Providing full employment for young people would be one of the most exciting things the government and country could do,Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair told an audience at Boughton Pumping Station.
Speaking at the launch of Green Futures, a work and training project, Mr Blair said: “I would like to see a situation in the next few years where we abolish youth unemployment.”
• A rare copper etching plate, bought for just £25 from the Newark International Antiques and Collectors Fair, has turned out to be a long-lost art treasure by the 16th Century Dutch master Lucas van Leyden.
The crucifixion scene, entitled Golgotha, was sold at London fine arts auction house Christie’s for £18,400.
Children’s television actor Mr Peter Llewellyn-Jones took one of his fellow stars to help him open a summer fair at Hawtonville Junior School, Newark.
• The Newark actor, who plays Mr Grimley in the children’s programme The Riddlers, took the show’s puppet, Tiddlup, to the fair.
50 years ago – June 29, 1974
ABOVE: Nearly 5,000 people turned out on a cold dull day to enjoy the fun of the fair at the annual carnival held by Newark Rugby Club supporters’ club at its Kelham Road ground.
There were stalls, raffles and sideshows, and the crowd was treated to an It’s A Knockout competition, tug-of-war, a beauty contest and the death-defying antics of Shahid Malik as he tried to escape from a strait jacket while suspended upside down at a height of 65ft.
Brian Cheetham, team captain of ABM, is pictured lifting Sue Rix shoulder height after being presented with the carnival knockout cup by footballer Ian Moore.
• A questionnaire being sent to every householder in Newark by the Department of the Environment on the route of the proposed A46 bypass has been described as naive.
Mr Geoffrey Spenceley, the Newark District Council’s planning officer, said the questionnaire, which householders have to fill up and say which of four alternative routes they would like the A46 to take, did not describe clearly what effects each scheme would have on the town centre.
• Newark’s Millgate, which has been deteriorating in appearance for a number of years, was described as an embarrassment and a problem area.
But now it is to be given a facelift on a long-term basis with the creation of new buildings and the modernisation of old buildings worth preserving.
• Houses at Top Row, Side Row and Bottom Row on Beacon Hill, Newark, have been freed from the shadow of demolition.
Newark Distrct Council’s housing services committee agreed to lift a clearance order imposed by the former borough council and instead consider the area as a general improvement area.
• More than 100 Sunday School children from Southwell Holy Trinity Church and parents visited Alton Towers for their annual outing.
Before leaving, prayers were said by Mr Philip Johnson.
100 years ago – June 25, 1924
The spirit of the carnival held all Newark in its grasp when the yearly festival in connection with the Sunday School Union took place.
For a more spectacular festival, better favoured by the weather, one would have to go a long way back and the town turned out to add to the gaiety of the children’s day.
Every window in the Market Place and the route of the procession was full on onlookers and few were the houses without a flag or bunting to add to the colourful scene.
Following assembly in the Market Place and the singing of hymns, three cheers were given for the King and three more for the president.
As in previous years, prizes were offered for the best devices, best decorated wagon, the school making the best display, and for best groomed horse and cleanest harness.
• Newark’s new museum – worthy of the town’s historical past – was formally opened by Mr W. Bradley, chairman of the museum committee.
Mr Bradley has been the moving spirit behind the transformation at the Magnus buildings.
No one would imagine that in a small town like Newark they had such a wonderful collection. Hitherto, the exhibits had not been shown to the best advantage but now in the present building they will be seen at their best.
• Newark schoolchildren will visit Wembley this afternoon at the Palace Theatre. A series of most interesting and instructive lantern slides will be screened.
The story of the great exhibition will be told by the Rev H. Gorse and the pictures will be descriptive of the organisers, patrons and the principal places and shows of interest in the vast enclosure of Wembley.
• Newark lady bowlers will again take possession of the town bowling green tomorrow when the annual Ladies Day will be held.
Members are reminded that the names of their lady friends should be entered on the card hanging in the pavilion together with their own name.
No one will be allowed to participate unless introduced by a member of the Newark Bowling Club.
• Mr Taylor, auctioneer to Newark Farmers’ Ltd, held the annual wool sale on Saturday. The sale has increased in popularity since its institution three years ago, as is shown by the increase in the number of fleeces, notwithstanding the shortage of sheep in the district.
A total of 4,150 fleeces were offered for sale. There was a large assembly of buyers representing most of the prominent firms in the British wool trade.
