Image ID: 09166

Mr Jack Chambers; well remembered Newark prankster

Courtesy of Mr C G Wood

Newark
Newark on Trent
England

The picture shows Mr Chambers - a photographer by trade employed by Hunt & co. of Stodman Street, Newark - in one of his celebrated theatrical guises. One of Mr Chambers most remarkable stunts is recorded as follows: One incident from Newark's past which is fondly remembered dates from the Newark Carnival of 1937. It concerns an intrepid prankster who secretly scaled the parish church spire in the Thirties and left a flag and two school ties fluttering from its weathervane. This stunt, although perhaps of little merit in itself, is well remembered by many townsfolk who where children at the time and who recall the considerable interest it aroused. For while it was easy to see how the 245ft spire had been scaled - ladders had been strapped to its entire height by professional steeplejacks engaged in renovation - there remained the mystery of who had done it and why. The Advertiser gamely reported the twists and turns of the story as they emerged and, capturing the spirit of the escapade, eventually had the privilege of revealing the identity of the so-called mystery man. The strange sequence of events had their origin in Newark Carnival Week, September 1937. One of the highlights was a theatrical burlesque presented by the carnival committee at the Palace Theatre, that took the form of a spoof school prize-giving ceremony. All parts were taken by adults and the school was call St Aniland's in honour of the Mayor, P J C Staniland. To enable the audience to enter into the spirit of the evening, Union Jacks and specially made school ties and caps were presented to all as they entered the auditorium. It was one of these flags and two St Aniland ties which, the following day, made their appearance fluttering from the weathervane at the top of the church spire. The method by which the St Aniland trophies had reached the highest point in Newark was no mystery, and a week after the even the Newark Advertiser newspaper carried a full account of the escapade written by the perpetrator. 'I went into the church just after midnight on the Monday evening of Carnival Week' he wrote. 'I walked up the stone steps to the pinnacles and sat there from 12.15am to 1.15am when the floodlights were turned off. I then started to climb up the ladder (left by the steeplejacks) and when I got to the top, tied myself to the metalwork that supports the cockerel. I tied the flag, a cotton Union Jack, to the weathervane and two St Aniland ties, strung together to the next of the cockerel. I was down again by the time the church clock chimed half past one. I left the church by the north door.' Speculation in the town as to who had done the deed, and why, was rife and provided a lively topic of conversation for many days. While it was generally admitted that the mystery man's nocturnal jaunt had been highly dangerous (not to say illegal), no one appears to have suggested that, when identified, he should be prosecuted. In fact, public opinion demanded quite the opposite. A few days later, when the flag and ties had been brought down by the steeplejacks, it was announced that they were to be auctioned by the mayor in aid of the maternity wing then being built at Newark Hospital. Eventually, on October 13, after stretching public suspense to the limit, the Advertiser, in an article headed The Mask Removed revealed triumphantly and exclusively the identity of the amateur steeplejack. It transpired that he was no other than Mr Jack Chambers who, as a photographer employed by Hunt and Co. of Stodman Street, had actually returned to the scene of his escapade to photograph the spectacle for the newspaper. No explanation was ever given as to why Chambers had been moved to attempt such a feat, but harking back to the script of that burlesque at the Palace, one wonders if one of the head's speeches was in some way responsible. 'It is always a pleasure to note the progress of old boys and girls,' he had said. 'In accordance with tradition, we find Old Stanilandians occupying important government posts at Dartmoor, Maidstone, Bedford and Lincoln. Of course we do not expect all our products to reach the top of the tree. They are not all interested in bird nesting, they do not all aspire to climb the church spire..'

Date: 1930

Organisation Reference: NCCE003126

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