From the pages of the Down Recorder, December 20, 1977

From the pages of the Down Recorder, December 20, 1977

20 December 2017

DOWNPATRICK — The new 14-classroom extension to Downpatrick Technical College is expected to open in September and will more than double the present size of the building.

It will have 14 teaching rooms which will include a lecture room, and other facilities will include administrative offices and topilets.

Giving the news of the opening date at the college prize giving recently, a delighted principal, Mr S W Simms, said that the extension would allow for expansion of existing courses, as well as the introduction of new ones.

He said: “It is very gratifying to see the work progressing so satisfactorily and a completion date in view. If everything goes to plan the extension should open in September. We need the extension badly to replace the temporary accommodation we have been using for six or seven years.”

Mr Simms told those at the prize giving that the improved facilities in the new extension would be able to offer more in the field of community education.

“The authorities are very concerned about there large number of school leavers who appear to be lost to all forms of cultural an educational activity after leaving school.”

He stressed that he hoped that in the new year, with the co-operation of the Department of Manpower Services, he could examine the possibilities of providing suitable courses of a vocational nature which would improve the prospects of employment for this section of the population.

In reviewing the 1975-76 academic year, Mr Simms indicated that all departments had continued to make progress and that the list of certificate winners was proof of what had been achieved.

KILLOUGH — A Killough publican lost his weekend takings and several crates of whiskey and brandy when his van caught fire on Monday morning.

Noel Kearney, owner of the Old Inn, Killough, was reversing his van when it caught fire, destroying the loaded crates and burning the money.

Downpatrick firemen raced to the scene and were hampered by the shortage of water, but managed to contain the blaze with their tank supply of 200 gallons.

CASTLEWELLAN — A seven-hour siege by an armed gang, who intended robbing Castlewellan Post Office, ended in failure in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The gang held a married couple captive during their long wait for the Post Office staff to arrive, but in the end they were unable to get into the safe, their prime target.

The siege began around 11pm on Monday night when the armed gang confronted a 47 year-old man and his wife, who had arrived back at their Upper Square home.

The couple were taken into their flat above the local Post Office and held until the Post Office staff arrived at 5.30 the next morning. However, none of the staff possessed the keys to the safe and the gang had to resort to ransacking several mailbags, without financial result.

ARDGLASS — An Ardglass man received a nice Christmas bonus when he appeared on an Ulster Television quiz programme on Monday night and received several prizes.

John McGrath, of The Crescent, was one of a panel of three who contested Up Squares, Down Squares which is compered by Brian McSharry.

John, headmaster of St Patrick’s Primary School, Legamaddy, failed to win the star prize of the night — a motor bicycle — but in finishing runner-up he received a digital watch, a set of hair rollers and £43. He was also given a Christmas pudding as a seasonal gesture.

KILLYLEAGH — The vice-principal of Killyleagh Secondary  School was presented with a bookcase and cheque last Thursday on his retirement from the school after 18-and-a-half years of service.

The presentation was made to Mr A Mitchell at the school’s prize giving and many teachers paid tribute to his long and distinguished career.

Angela Spratt, the head girl, made the presentation on behalf of the management committee, teaching and ancillary staff and pupils of the school. The Rev J C Boggs expressed appreciation of Mr Mitchell’s long and outstanding service on behalf of the school management committee.

The principal, Mr W J Carruthers, praised the services of Mr Mitchell and Mr D Coey and Mr E Gourley paid tribute to him on behalf of his staffroom colleagues.

BALLYNAHINCH — Ballynahinch biology whizz-kid Paula McKay has received her prize for taking first place in the Northern Ireland GCE A level biology examinations.

The prize was was awarded to Paula, of Main Street, on behalf of the Biological Council by Sister McKenna in Assumption Grammar School where Paula was a former pupil.

Her prize included a cheque for £25 and an unusual trophy — the engraving on the base of the glass centre piece was a stylised version of the 9 plus 2 system of microtubules in cilia, the Biological Council’s motif.

Paula, who is now studying medicine at Trinity College, Dublin, returned to her old school for the presentation.

NEWCASTLE — An anthem composed by a Newcastle man was performed for the first time in a Christmas service at Down Cathedral on Sunday night.

The anthem was written especially for the cathedral choir by 20 year-old Donald Hamilton, of Arkeen Hotel, Newcastle. Donald, a former Down High School pupil, not only composed ‘Sleep Holy Babe,’ he also accompanied the choir on the cathedral organ.

Donald wrote the anthem over the period of a week while at college, although he does not know who wrote the words. While he has written several pieces before, this anthem was his first composition to be performed in public.

Donald’s interest in music began ten years ago when he learned to play the piano. He progressed to the organ, which became his favourite instrument.

When Donald left Down High two years ago he decided to make music his career and is now taking a degree course in music at the London College of Music. When he graduates he hopes to become organist in a larger parish church somewhere and to give private lessons to other young musicians.

DUNDRUM — The Danny Flynn Youth Club in Dundrum presented the winners of its individual competitions with their prizes after a club disco on Friday night. The presentations were made by Fiona Tyson and Geraldine Madie, chairperson and treasurer respectively of the members’ committee.

In the junior section Cahal Bannon was the pool and draughts champion, while Paul Madden came first in the table tennis competition. In the senior section Raymond Campbell came first in the darts and table tennis competitions and Eoin Flinn defeated all-comers in the draughts competition.

SLIEVENISKY — Farmers living in the hilly townlands of Slieveniksy and Clanvaraghan may be close to nearby reservoirs, but they still have one of the worst water supplies in the district.

Local councillor Mrs Ethel Smyth told Monday night’s meeting of Down Council that farmers in the district were often left without water because of inadequate pumps for the area.

She called on other councillors to support her in calling on the Water Service to ensure adequate supplies to the town lands.

Mrs Smyth was strongly backed by the other members.Mr Jarlath Carey said he thought it “ironic” that the districts were so close to the reservoirs.

LEGAMADDY — A cheque for £60 was handed over a charity by pupils of St Patrick’s Primary School, Legamaddy. The pupils from P6 and P7 had raised the money on their own initiative by organising a guess the name of the doll and guess the number of sweets in the jar competition.