Bill Clarke’s Top Liners playing in Downpatrick Town Hall during the war years. On the drums in Jimmy Murphy and holding the saxophone is the man himself, Bill Clarke, who, confusingly, was known as Willie. His daughter Teresa is playing the accordion alongside Jimmy Mullan. At the back is pianist Herbie Shaw.

From the pages of the Down Recorder,
March 3, 1940

DURING the dark days of World War 2 people were desperately in need of something to take their minds off the seemingly never ending daily privations of war.
They wanted to be entertained — cinemas were bulging to the seams — but the strict petrol rationing meant that dance halls were closed simply because the bands could not travel.
Fortunately, Downpatrick had its own top class dance band...and very popular it proved. Bill Clarke’s Top Liners played at just about every local venue during the war years and rarely, if ever, turned down a booking.
Bill, who was better known as Willie, was a talented saxophonist, and was joined on stage by his daughter Teresa, who sang and played the accordion, Jimmy Mullan (accordion), Jimmy Murphy (drums) and Herbie Shaw (piano).
Teresa, later to become Mrs. Denvir, is now 83 and lives in Ardmeen Green in Downpatrick. Her son, Joe, says the band was the biggest thing in south Down during the war.
“Because they were local, they were able to travel to the venues. Acts from further away were kept off the roads because petrol was so short,” Joe explained.
In addition to playing in her father’s band, Teresa travelled to Belfast twice weekly to sing with the renowned David Curry dance band in the Ulster Hall in front of more than a thousand dancers.
“She got the bus there and back, stopping for fish and chips in Oxford Street,” Joe said. “When she got back to Downpatrick, she had a three-mile walk home..”
Bill Clarke’s Top Liners kept going until around 1949, but fond memories of happy times continue to this day.

ARDGLASS — At Downpatrick Rural Council’s meeting on Saturday, Mr. George Milligan, Ardglass, seeking a seven-day entertainment licence for the Shield Hall, said that Sunday was the only day of the week offering a chance of popular support for dancing. Whereas elsewhere what were styled social clubs were given latitude, there was none for Ardglass.
Mr. W. J. McCoubrey, presiding, cited the council’s resolution prohibiting boxing or dancing in halls on Sunday nights, but not other forms of amusement such as concerts or whist drives. Anyone aggrieved had a right of appeal to the county court judge.
Mr. S. Sharvin had no patience with hypocrisy. They all knew of dances in halls here and there under their control every Sunday night. yet when Milligan honestly wanted to be put on the same plane he was reminded of a resolution. After incurring expense in erecting this hall was he to be denied the chance of any return for his outlay?
Mr. P. Smyth said that the members had only to read the ‘Recorder’ week by week to realise the multiplicity of Sunday dances.
Mr. J. J. Smyth: Milligan should not have bothered to come here. This farcical ban should never have been introduced.

DOWNPATRICK — ‘Angels with Dirty Faces’ (featuring James Cagney), booked for the Downpatrick cinema on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, is a melodramatic story of two boys, brought up together in the slums, whose lives become widely divergent when one is sent to reform school for a prank in which both took part. He becomes a notorious gangster; his friend enters the priesthood. Their paths cross again, the climax is lurid.

CASTLENAVAN — After a rehearsal at Ballynahinch Court last October, a civil action was brought in the King’s Bench on Tuesday against Alex Magee, of Andersonstown, driver, and James McKeag, of North Road, Belfast, owner of a car, which at Castlenavan on 6th August was in collision with a motorcyclist, William Saunders, 18, of Mealough, whereby his right arm was fractured, the muscles and nerves being torn, and he underwent treatment in Down County Infirmary.
A settlement for £1,100 was agreed to. Mr. Warnock, K.C., who was instructed by Messrs King & Boyd, said: ‘I have been informed by Dr. Robb that had it not been for a new technique discovered during the Spanish civil war this boy’s arm could not have been saved at all.’

RAFFREY — Down Presbytery on Tuesday ordained at Raffrey Rev. S. J. Fitzsimons in succession to Rev. R. Houston, now of First Holywood. Mr. Fitzsimons, whose father is an elder of Ravenhill Road Church, was educated at Magee College, Derry, and graduated first class in arts at Trinity College, Dublin, in 1936. He completed his theological course in Assembly College, Belfast, and was licensed in 1938.
In Raffrey church the solemn service was conducted by the Moderator of the Down Presbytery, Rev. N. Huston; the sermon was preached by Rev. R. J. Boggs; the rule of faith was read by Rev. W. Dickie; and after the prescribed questions prayer was offered by Rev. W. J. Harrison and Very Rev. W. Corkey. The devotional music was finely led by the choir, Miss Mabel Spratt being at the organ. At the luncheon in the hall, White of Comber being the caterers, the Moderator presided.

KILLINCHY — Killinchy Presbyterians, at a tea meeting on 23rd February, Dr. Wallace in the chair, presented to Rev. W. A. Montgomery, a wallet of notes, and Mrs. Montgomery a beautiful china cabinet to mark their recent marriage. Miss Lizzie Morrison and Mr. J. Robinson respectively made the presentations. In his sincere ‘thank you,’ Mr. Montgomery said that only three-and-a-half years ago he received from his congregation a cheque for a very substantial amount, and in the course of almost 13 years they had shown him unfailing kindness.

KILLYLEAGH — At a meeting of townspeople on Tuesday, Colonel Gordon, M.P., who presided, and Mr. R. N. Greer and Mr. J. H. Wightman were constituted an executive to arrange, on his homecoming, a fitting reception for Stoker David Withers, of H.M.S.. Exeter, of River Plate battle fame.

PORTAFERRY — Having outlived its title, now that summer-time is decreed and the evenings are lengthening, Portaferry Blackout Club wound up the session on Monday night with a social party; tea, whist and games. The club has fulfilled a useful function during a gloomy and stormy winter in bringing members of the community together for friendly intercourse and discussion.

SAINTFIELD — Messrs Gallaher’s van and loud speaker system, put at the disposal of the Ministry of Agriculture, visited Saintfield fair on Wednesday in furtherance of the ‘grow more food’ policy. As computed, £8 out of every £10 of the total farm income is derived from livestock and livestock products. What is enjoined is that it is essential to prepare now for the future by retaining all good breeding stock and by putting every possible acre under the plough for the production of arable crops. These are necessary in lieu of imported feeding stuffs, the supply of which is smaller and more irregular than normal.

KIRCUBBIN — ‘All right; take good care again,’ was the R.M.’s advice in extending the benefit of the Probation Act to Minnie Pyper, of Kircubbin, who was summoned at Greyabbey petty sessions for a breach of the black-out regulations. She produced a letter from Rev. S. Stevenson, of Glastry, saying that she had apologised for any sharp words exchanged with the police. Her children, she added, had failed to hook up a curtain after lighting a candle.

LISTOODER — Mr. W. R. Flinn was in the chair in Listooder Orange Hall on Wednesday when Mr. Herbert Spratt, of Drumaghlis, treasurer of Listooder pipe band, was honoured on the occasion of his marriage.

BELFAST — Five Belfast women, voluntary workers on behalf of H.M. forces, lost their lives about 11pm on Thursday. In the black-out the motor-car in which they were travelling from a naval canteen, toppled into Pollock dock some 80 yards away. When they failed to turn up at their respective homes relatives raised the alarm. Not until eight o’clock yesterday morning was the car recovered with four of the bodies in it. The victims were all in the back, clasped in each other’s arms.