From the pages of the Down Recorder, January 1, 1973

1 January 2013

BALLYNAHINCH — Over 800 students, parents, past pupils and friends packed the assembly hall of Ballynahinch Secondary School before Christmas for the presentation of a carol service, which was different from the normal seasonal ones in that it encompassed the whole year with a selection of carols, hymns, choral pieces and readings.

The orchestra, brass band, choirs, choral speakers and readers comprised 220 children — about 75 per cent of the enrolment — who combined in fast moving, unbroken performance of high standard. The audience was particularly appreciative of the high degree of pupil involvement, the slickness of the performance, the high standard of music and the effort that went into training the pupils.

The musical director and pianist was Mrs. M. Grahame, assisted by Mr. D. M. D. Rutherford. The choral speakers and readers were trained by Mr. S. McCullough, headmaster. A sum of £40 was collected for charity, and this will be shared by the NSPCC, Dr. Barnardo’s and Central Council for the Disabled.

This was the first venture by the newly formed home-school link association, which is a joint parent-teacher organisation.

DOWNPATRICK — Downpatrick Technical College, which has been hampered by accommodation difficulties over the past few years, to have a 14-room extension, the principal, Mr. Samuel Simms, stated at the annual prize-giving before Christmas.

“We had hoped that building operations would have commenced before the end of the year on a new 12-room extension, but unfortunately this was not the case,” he said. “Now we are fairly certain that work will commence in the spring or early summer and the extension will be a 14-room one which will more than double our present accommodation.

“When all this has been completed we hope to be able to provide an even wider range of courses than at present and also a meeting place in our community where people of all denominations and from all walks of life can meet and learn to understand each other better.”

CROSSGAR — For 41 years David McMullan has been caretaker at Crossgar County Primary School. Now he is retiring and to mark the occasion a function was held in the school. Mr. McMullan and his wife, Hilda, who has helped him over the years in the school, were the recipients of gifts from the parents, pupils, past pupils and teaching staff.

A veteran of World War 1 Mr. McMullan, who is in his early eighties, was also the local postman for over thirty years. “When I took up the appointment of caretaker in August 1931 I was getting ten shillings a week. The principal of the school was Mr. Heenan and his assistants were Miss Webb and Miss Coulter, now Mrs. Purdy of Newcastle.”

A native of Ballygowan, he says he has many happy times in Crossgar. A lot happier than those he spent as a German prisoner of war. But of that he doesn’t want to talk any more.

DUNDRUM — Mr. William Trohear, of Main Street, Dundrum, who died before Christmas after a short illness had been active in local government since 1939. As representative for Dundrum on the former Board of Guardians and the Rural Council, he was outspoken in the pursuit of the area’s interests and always had the welfare of the people at heart.

Mr. Trohear was a noted merchant and property owner and over the years had been heavily involved in exporting and importing through the local port. He was agent for the Belfast potato merchants, Cullen & Allen, and one of the boats he owned was ‘The Mini’, a 60-ton schooner; another was the SS Ben May.

The Trohear family was always connected with ships and Mr. Trohear was no exception, as was evidenced by the large number of cups and trophies in his possession.

The funeral place to St. Paul’s Church, Castlewellan.

KILLYLEAGH — Killyleagh Parish Church was filled for the annual carol service. The Killyleagh silver band, with their bandmaster and conductor, Mr. Kelly, accompanied the singing of the various carols and brought out the best in the singing of the choir and the large congregation which included many visitors.

The youth organisations paraded to the service. The Brownie Guides, with their leader, Christobelle Tweedie, and her assistant, Wendy McCorkell, proceeded up the aisle with lighted candles in front of the robed choir singing the processional hymn ‘Once in Royal David’s City.’ the Brownie Guides also sang ‘Away in a Manger’ around the lighted Christmas tree.

The temporary organist, Mrs. Faulkner, who put much hard work into the teaching of the church choir and the Brownie group, also accompanied the choir and congregation. The service was conducted by the rector, Rev. R. E. Conn.

ARDGLASS — Brandy and whiskey worth more than £300 has been seized by police in Ardglass and also in the Killinchy area.

Detectives are still making investigations into the two finds which are believed to be linked. Both hauls may be the work of a sophisticated ring and part of a stolen warehouse consignment.

KILMORE — Mr. T. J. Hewitt presided at the December meeting of Lissara Presbyterian Women’s Association which took the form of a carol service with lessons read by Mrs. E. M. Morris, Mrs. G. Robinson, Mrs. M. Hamilton, Mrs. S. Andrews and Mrs. W. A. Niblock. It was pleasant to hear the sweet voices of the Junior Choral Society rendering carols under their conductor, Mrs. N. McKillen.

Meanwhile, the last of this year’s fellowship hours was held in Kilmore Presbyterian Church when a coloured film, ‘Free to Grow’, was shown by Mr. Tom Ferris. The film depicted Christian Aid work in many parts of the world.

DOWNPATRICK — The poor are still with us and, no doubt, will always. We wonder, however, if the state of those who are less well off today is as bad as their counterparts of 130 years ago?

On Friday, December 16, 1842, eight sheep and 130 sixpenny loaves were distributed among the poor of Downpatrick. The poor in those says did not have their sorrows to seek, for during the same week it was reported that “typhus was still raging through the town, but it was in the main confined to the working class.”

Tweets by @TheDownRecorder