Ian Harrison, Newark Town Council market manager says goodbye to Newark as he is ready to retire after 51 year career
The man who brought CCTV cameras to Newark is saying goodbye after 51 years in local government.
Ian Harrison, the man behind Newark’s markets and big events, will officially retire on March 31 at the age of 71.
Originally from Lancashire, Ian moved around the country a lot due to his father's job with British Rail, until the family made a final stop in Newark.
He started his career as a clerical planning assistant at Newark and Sherwood District Council in 1974, and throughout his 38 years there worked on the environmental health team, emergency planning, and flooding.
In 2007, he led the town’s flooding response efforts and dealt with over 5,000 emergency calls for help in 24 hours — and even introduced CCTV cameras to the town.
In 2012, he took a flexible retirement from the district council and started working for Newark Town Council, becoming markets manager for 13 years.
He said: “I think it is time to let somebody with new ideas, and perhaps a little younger, come in.
“All the markets around the country have changed in these 13 years and the Newark market is not as big as it was then, but it is still a beautiful market.
“It is still so important to Newark as a town and I hope I have made a difference to the people who trade here and all those who use the market.”
Highlights of his time in the role include when he brought 4,000 jugglers, acrobats, and circus performers to Newark Showground with the four-day European Juggling Convention in 2019, and Newark-on-Sea beach, because of the ‘enjoyment it brings to so many young families’.
He added that it has been a pleasure to work with the people of Newark:
“When I look back at my career, I'm quite pleased with it,” he said, “It's given me a hell of a lot and it has given me the opportunity to meet some brilliant people.
“We've had some great times, sometimes sadness, but many times of laughter.
“I have come to fall in love with Newark and its people.”
However, he has said he is ‘not ready to hang his boots up yet’, and is writing a book about his career.
Ian added: “It will hopefully dwell on the happy times and the fun times — and the very strange things that have happened in 51 years working in local government, including encounters with ghosts at least five times at Kelham Hall.
“So many things happened that you would never imagine, and the good thing about my work is that you never know what is going to happen from one day to the next.
“I just want to remind the people of Newark of the jewel in the crown that we have.
“Newark has had its challenges, and will have its challenges, but it is still a beautiful part of the country and a place that we can all be proud of.”