From the pages of the Down Recorder, April 27, 1976

From the pages of the Down Recorder, April 27, 1976

27 April 2016

SILENT VALLEY — Water restrictions may be introduced shortly for consumers of Silent Valley water – and that includes the people of Downpatrick and many others in North Down.

Yesterday, as speculation on the ban of non-essential uses mounted, gallons of the precious commodity were lost when one of the main supply pipes burst near Ballygowan. The force of the explosion caused part of the main Ballygowan-Saintfield road to subside. Water officials think the pipe burst due to a build-up of pressure. The road was closed for most of the day.

The Silent Valley supplies more than 350,000 people, including those in North and East Down, East and South Belfast. Water levels have fallen to about 60 per cent of their capacity, giving officials cause for concern.

Water experts meet every week and for some time they have been monitoring levels in the Mourne reservoirs. According to them, levels in the Silent Valley had begun to rise, but there had been a setback owing to the good weather.

Now a ban on car washing, hosing the garden and other non-essential uses, similar to last summer, may be brought in. If these are not successful, Department of the Environment bosses may have to consider the question of water rationing.

The Silent Valley is the only area that is seriously affected at the moment. Other reservoirs such as Spelga and Fofanny are in much better condition.

DOWNPATRICK — Almost 40 youths gathered round and started shouting obscenities at two policemen at Downpatrick racecourse on March 17 as they caught a dog which had killed a lamb, Downpatrick juvenile court heard.

A 15 year-old Downpatrick girl was charged with being disorderly during the incident. According to the police she swore at the two constables. The girl admitted the offences in court.

A defence solicitor said the girl was only one of about 40 youths who could have been brought before the court. He said the crowd had gathered round as they thought the dog was going to be shot. The girl was placed on probation for four months.

BALLYNAHINCH — A retiring cafe owner was invited to a tea with a difference at Ballynahinch RUC station on Friday afternoon.

The officers and men who have used Violet Murray’s cafe down the years decided to mark her retirement by returning some of the hospitality shown to them. After tea had been served, Violet, who has been preparing meals at her High Street premises for 23 years, was presented with a silver tray by Constable Ivor Taylor.

Apart from three fish restaurants, Violet’s premises was the only other recognised cafe in the town. She prepared breakfasts, dinners and teas at very reasonable prices and often made sandwich teas for parties.

Violet’s grandmother owned a confectionery shop in Lisburn Street before her mother opened the cafe premises in High Street. After her father died in 1953 Violet left her factory job to help her mother run the cafe.

Naturally Violet found it a wrench to end her days of preparing meals, but she reckons she has earned her rest. She intends to take it easy for the next few years, but she stresses she will always remember the nice gift presented to her by the local police.

Having served them for many years, Violet had come to know them personally, but yet she was touched by the cup of tea and cake served to her at the station.

CASTLEWELLAN — A bungalow which is being built at Burrenreagh, Castlewellan, in spite of four refusals of applications for planning permission, has been described by a local councillor as “enhancing the area.”

The Planning Authority say the development is contrary to the Mourne Study as the site is in an area where there should not be any material change in the existing land use. In addition, it is within the Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and prejudices the rural character of the area.

At a Down Council meeting the councillor, Mr Seamus Fitzpatrick, asked a planning officer what would be done next. The officer replied that the next step in the procedure could only be a planning appeal.

Mr Fitzpatrick came back: “It’s an attractive house. I know it sprang up overnight, but it does enhance the area.”

NEWCASTLE — The recently formed Newcastle and District Ladies’ Circle held their third meeting on Thursday in Brook Cottage Hotel. The Circle is exclusive to wives of active Round Table members and it is hoped that Table and Circle can work together on their various projects.

At a former meeting elections were held and officers were elected as follows: chairman, Vickie Methven; vice-chairman, Jan Davis; hon secretary, Helen Carton; hon treasurer, Grace Mills. A sponsored walk from Newcastle to Dundrum and back has been arranged for May 1.

SEAFORDE — At the April meeting of Seaforde Women’s Institute, the vice-president, Mrs Forde, welcomed Mrs Henderson, a founder member of the Irish Countrywoman’s Association Adult Education Centre, which is situated near Drogheda.

DRUMANESS — Police are anxious to trace thieves who broke into a house at Harmony Way, Drumaness, last week and made off with several valuable items, including a nine carat gold watch chain, with two nine carat gent’s pocket watches valued at £190. Also taken were a set of gold cuff links valued at £50. The initials CC were engraved on the front, with the names Mercie and Heather on the back.

RAFFREY — A founder member of First Raffrey Boys’ Brigade was the inspecting officer at the company’s annual display on Friday night. Mr Hans Stevenson was a founder member with the late Mr John Stevenson, the Rev Rex Pedlow, now in Canada, and Mr Robert Morrison, who is still an active officer in the company.

The special guest was the Rev Amos Vdonsek, from Nigeria, who was in Raffrey during the ministry of the Rev Martin Smyth and has returned for a week’s special mission in the province.

SAINTFIELD — A weekend house on the Carrickmannon Road, Saintfield, was completely gutted on Sunday — and the trouble was caused by a bird’s nest in the chimney. Apparently the rafters caught fire when the fire was lit and then the flames engulfed the premises.

KILLYLEAGH — Many former members of First Killyleagh Presbyterian Church Girls’ Brigade were guests of honour at the annual display celebrating the company’s 21st anniversary.

The guests of honour were the Rev David Lapsley, who was minister of the congregation when the company was first formed in 1944, and a former captain, Mrs John Bain. The company captain, Mrs J Gilmore, was presented with a gold brooch, an album portraying the 21 years and a supper cloth embroidered with the GB badge. Three birthday cakes were necessary. 

STRANGFORD — A garden near Strangford, which was reclaimed from the wild, is the first to open under the National Trust’s Ulster Garden Scheme this year. It is at Rynn, 50 Audleystown Road, and will be open on Saturday.Set on a hill overlooking Strangford Lough and with views to the Mourne Mountains, the garden incorporates many natural features.

SPA — Spa Bowling Club trophy winners were presented with their prizes at the club’s annual dinner at Apeary Cottage, Newcastle, recently. The Carlisle Cup was won by Mrs M Peake, while Miss A Duffield won the Neill Cup. Last year’s officials were re-elected for the new season which gets underway on September 11.

TELEVISION — Jack Warner makes his final appearance as Dixon of Dock Green on BBC1 on Saturday when television’s longest running police series comes to an end in its 21st year. The programme began on June 9, 1955.