What was making the news in the Newark Advertiser in 1925, 1975 and 2000
The Advertiser has once again opened its archvies to see what was making the news this week 25, 50 and 100 years ago.
25 years ago - April 7, 2000
ABOVE: The latest cartoon craze to sweep the country has been banned from some Newark schools because of disputes over card and sticker swaps.
The Pokemon phenomenon has had a mixed response with some schools opting for a ban while others have developed strategies to keep the problem at bay.
There are more than 100 characters andthe aim is to collect them all.
* Newark’s Robin Hood Hotel looks set for a major redevelopment that would more than double the number of bedrooms to 85.
The hotel would keep its 18th Century frontage on Lombard Street. Most of the rooms would be in a new three-storey extension on the Portland Street roadside.
If the scheme, proposed by London-based owners Abraham Holdings, goes ahead it will end years of declining fortunes for the Grade II listed building, once the town’s premier hotel, which has been closed for 18 months.
* Top comic Ken Dodd has backed a new identity card scheme for Newark.
The veteran entertainer endorsed the scheme before his show at the Palace Theatre.
The Citizen Card will be available to anyone in Newark aged 12-18 who may need to prove their age and identity.
* A £¾m renovation project has seen Newark’s former main post office transformed into a bar and restaurant.
But it is not all change as the Kirkgate building has retained strong links with its near 100 year past and will re-open as The Famous Old Post Office.
Traditional post office memorabilia has been used to decorate the interior, including a working red telephone box and an old van fitted with tables and chairs.
50 years ago - April 12, 1975
ABOVE: Newark Rowing Club’s under-16s fours team have been so successful that they will represent the East Midlands at under-18 level in the coxless fours section of the junior championships at Holme Pierrepont.
Pictured with the array of trophies they won last summer are (left to right) Peter Shaw, Eric Sims, Robert Shaw and David Hird.
* Militant Newark District Council area ratepayers are to stage a car-borne demonstration around the town’s streets next Saturday lunchtime.
About 40 cars will tour the town centre while supporters will hand out leaflets calling for rates to be scrapped.
A small motorcade will tour Ollerton, Laxton, Edwinstowe, Egmanton, Wellow, Walesby and Kneesall before linking with other protesters at Tolney Lane, Newark.
* A Newark pensioner trudged through a snowstorm for half an hour to return a tin containing £26.40 which she had bought for 3p at a jumble sale.
Mrs Daisy Hardy (73) of Devon Road, thought she was buying a tin of buttons at the sale in Christ Church hall in aid of Hawtonville Hospital social club.
When she opened the tin the next day she found a bundle of notes and coins.
It had been left at the sale by accident.
* Nottingham Forest are the latest Football League club to show interest in Newark Town striker John Beckitt (16) who has scored six goals in only eight first team appearances.
He will have a trial at the City Ground.
Mansfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday are also believed to be closely checking John’s progress.
* Sparks are flying in Bleasby over Notts County Council’s efforts to make the village brighter.
Earlier this year the county council installed brilliant sodium street lights in Sycamore Street.
Since then, the parish council says the lane has looked like a fairgound and the lights can be seen for miles.
100 years ago - April 8, 1925
An enjoyable was spent at Clarke’s Cafe when the annual dinner of the Newark and District Bakers and Confectioners Association was held.
Proposing the toast of the evening Mr W. J. Stray congratulated Newark on keeping fairly level during the present chaos in the bread trade.
The price of bread was reduced in Newark on Monday by a halfpenny on the 4lb loaf and a farthing on the 2lb loaf.
Newark housewives may wonder why they are still to pay more than the people in London. Two facts enter into the disparity which, in fairness to local bakers, should be given.
The price of flour in the Metropolis is lower than in the provinces and the cost of bread in Newark invariably remains stationary for some time after London prices have gone up.
* Following upon the example set by the cathedral authorities in Chester, Southwell Cathedral is to be opened to visitors free of charge.
The old system of charging sixpence will be abolished on Easter Monday and in making the announcement Archdeacon Conybeare expresses the hope that those who visit the cathedral will give voluntarily such donations as they can for the care and upkeep of the services.
* An outbreak of fire at 23 Wilson Street, Newark, caused considerable excitement for a short time last evening.
The outbreak occurred in the cellar, but although the alarm was given, the services of the brigade were not needed.
* Keen and clean was the competition at the annual athletic sports of the Southwell Minster Grammar School where there was a good attendance of spectators.
Not the least exciting feature was that provided by the competition for the various inter-house events and the old favourites - the obstacle and sack races - provided plenty of amusement.
There was a long list of events and many close finishes were seen.
