What was making the news in the Newark Advertiser in 1924, 1974 and 1999

The Advertiser has opened its archives to see what was making the news this week 25, 50 and 100 years ago.

25 years ago – August 13, 1999

ABOVE: Almost 100 local youngsters in 16 teams took part in a charity football tournament and raised £300 to buy children's play equipment.

Organised by Balderton Tenants’ and Residents’ Association, in the senior final the Hawtonville Boys beat a team called Tsunami, and In the junior final the South Park Crew triumphed over Noble One

Five referees took part, including Football League official Mr Phil Joslin.

• Residents of a Newark sheltered housing scheme are begging to be locked in to keep out drunken yobs, drug users and vandals.

People living in Carswell Close, off Cleveland Square on the Hawtonville estate, are banding together to sign a petition calling on Newark and Sherwood District Council to provide security gates at all four entrances to their complex. Many at the residents are too afraid to go out after dark.

• Office and shop workers took to the streets on Wednesday to witness the last solar eclipse of the millennium.

They saw a crescent-shaped silhouette of the moon-obscured sun that only occasionally broke through the cloud cover.

Despite the disappointing weather, it was still a significant occasion for Mr Donald Pacey, who was born at Easthorpe, Southwell, on the day of the last total eclipse, August 11, 1927.

Mr Pacey of Dorewood Court, Newark, watched the eclipse on television with family and friends celebrating his 72nd birthday.

• One of Southwell's most important historic landmarks Is to be given a facelift.

The Burgage war memorial is a lasting monument to the people of the town who died fighting in two world wars. It was erected shortly after the first world war and a tablet added in the Sixties with the names of the fallen of the second world war.

But it has now fallen into a state of disrepair and the town council has decided action is to halt its decline.

50 years ago – August 17, 1974

ABOVE: Watched by members of the Lake Burien handbell choir from America, Dr Victor Twyman tries his hand with one of the bells they used in their concert at Newark Parish Church.

The 13-strong choir from Seattle, which plays a complete set of 61 bells, is on a tour of Britain, Holland and Eire.

• An estimated £1m is to be spent by British Rail on a flyover at Newark to carry to the Lincoln-Nottingham live over the East Coast Mainline, British Rail has announced.

The scheme, likely to start next year and be finished by 1977, will involve a new river bridge and new loop line.

• Plans for a massive facelift for the Millgate area of Newark were unveiled.

The provide for the renovation of much existing property and the clearance of derelict property, new housing development, the establishment of a folk museum and the landscaping of the riverside with the development of recreational facilities.

• Newark Town FC have opened negotiations with district council officials for the lease or purchase of an area of land in the town centre to develop as a football ground.

Football club representatives and council officials have inspected the site.

This season, the club is to play on council pitches at Lincoln Road and Devon Park.

• The sugar shortage in Newark shows no sign of easing, according to Grandways Stores Ltd in Balderton, and Liptons in Stodman Street says it could be mid-September before the situation returns to normal.

Fine Fare and Supasave in Cartergate have sugar in stock but in limited supplies.

100 years ago – August 13, 1924

The Chauntry Park, which had been rented by Newark Town Council, was opened on Saturday week as a public space but owing to its misuse by juvenile invaders was closed again on Tuesday.

Notices had been posted to the effect that the grounds were not to be used for games or to the annoyance of people residing in the area.

However, children took the park by storm and turned into into a veritable bear garden.

At one period no less than 20 cricket matches were in progress, the trees being improvised as wickets, while hundreds of stones must have been hurled at trees in the quest for conkers.

• The roads leading from the Midland Station to the Drill Hall were thickly lined when the Newark Company of the 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters returned from the annual training at Peel in the Isle of Man.

The Newark men who have taken part in the training returned looking very bronzed and fit, despite the fact that the weather was not too pleasant during the first week under canvas.

• A general meeting of Collingham Football Club was held, attended by a goodly number, many signing on.

A smoker followed, when an enjoyable evening was spent, several good songs being rendered.

Everyone present was well pleased, which augers well for the success of the club for the coming season.

• The matron of the Cottage Home at Balderton desires a supply of games and toys in order to amuse the little girls and boys in the home on wet days in the long winter evenings.

There must be Newark children who could spare or give their less fortunate brethren some of their surplus toys and games.

Sets of dominoes, draughts, ludo, snakes and ladders, snapcards or jigsaw puzzles would be very acceptable.