What was making the news in the Newark Advertiser in 1997, 1972 and 1922
The Advertiser has opened its archives to look at what was making the headlines this week 25, 50 and 100 years ago.
In 1997 staff at Specsavers in Newark were channelling the Spice Girls to raise money for Children In Need and another television favourite, Gladiators attracted a local competitor.
And 100 years ago saw the opening of Muskham Bridge and plans for the sinking of Ollerton Colliery.
25 years ago — November 28, 1997
Above: Staff at Specsavers, Newark, emulate the Spice Girls as the Spec Girls for Children In Need.
Pictured are Claire Amos, Margaret Keys, Caroline Dibbin, Julie Carlite, Melonie Hodgkiss and Janet Hewerdine.
The planning application to convert the derelict Wharf Café into a continental-style bar has been formally submitted.
It would form the £1m centrepiece of the redevelopment of Newark’s Town Wharf, bringing 25 new jobs and restoring the building.
The scheme will see the café restored to its former glory and linked with a new ultra-modern structure to bring a mixture of styles.
Gladiators contestants from England, Scotland and Wales travelled to a Southwell pub to watch funeral director Julie Hall gain a place in the ITV show’s semi-finals.
They joined friends, family and supporters of Miss Hall to watch her dramatic victory on television.
She became friends with many of the contestants during the filming of the show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.
Boarded-up windows designed to beat the vandals have left Newark’s Hawtonville Community Centre looking like a prison, according to the chairman of Hawtonville Community Association.
Constant vandalism has led to the decision, but Mr Roy Waterfall is unhappy with the drastic action.
Two-hundred red balloons will be released outside Southwell Minster in memory of people who have died from Aids and to remember those living with the virus.
It marks World Aids Day.
50 years ago — December 2, 1972
Above: Father Christmas gets the message from two children at a Christmas fair organised by Muskham and District Preschool Playgroup Association in North Muskham Village Hall.
They are Wendy Stubbs, 5, and Susan Adams, 5.
Newark’s housing chiefs are planning to set up a private police force to stamp out vandalism on the town’s council estates.
The first move will be to appoint a manager for the Fosseway estate. The council has also earmarked £5,000 to spend on anti-vandal measures.
Ransome Hoffmann Pollard are seeking workers outside the town, despite more than 900 unemployed in Newark.
Manager of the Newark unemployment exchange Mr Walter Parkin said the RHP vacancies could not be filled locally because there were not enough skilled unemployed in the town.
Newark is sitting on the Common Market fence, Newark Town Council was told.
Mr Tim Healey was explaining why Newark was not taking part in the Government-backed Fanfare For Europe jamboree to celebrate Britain’s entry into the Common Market.
“It is still a matter of contention and we decided to stay neutral,” he declared.
Police and meteorological and military experts are puzzling over a report that an unidentified flying object was seen over the Newark area.
The mystery object was seen by Mr Clive Spencer as he was waiting in his car at a level crossing near Egmanton.
He said the object was in view for eight seconds. It was cigar shaped, glowing vividly and moving steadily earthwards.
100 years ago — November 29, 1922
The happy culmination of a great enterprise of Nottinghamshire County Council was seen when the Duke of Portland opened the new bridge at Muskham.
The old timber bridge, which has carried traffic of the Great North Road over the Trent since 1652 has, for several years, been unsafe for the heavy transport of the modern days.
To remedy this defect the council contracted for a concrete structure at a cost of £50,000/.
The Butterley Coal and Iron Company have commenced sinking operations for coal at Ollerton, near Wellow Dam.
The company expect to build 700 houses for colliers and 25 bungalows for the sinkers.
There will be four or five years’ work for several hundred men.
Curiosity was aroused in Newark by the steeplejacks working on the steeple of the parish church.
Mr Ben Hallam, of Nottingham, who last visited the weathercock 12 years ago, renewed his acquaintance with the old bird and found him in fairly good condition.
The death of Mr David Mitchell in his 92nd year, which took place at his residence of Bowbridge Road, Newark, removes one of our oldest and most respected residents.
There was a peculiar incident at Beaumond Cross on Friday.
It appears that a horse attached to a dray was proceeding along Victoria Street. Upon two youngsters cracking whips the animal set off and galloped past the cross.
Fortunately, Mr John Kersley was cycling along London Road and when the runaway passed alongside he rode alongside, endeavouring to stop it.
