From the pages of the Down Recorder, January 1, 1980

From the pages of the Down Recorder, January 1, 1980

1 January 2020

DRINK DRIVERS — The RUC’s pre-Christmas blitz on drunken drivers has been a major success in Down District, with road traffic accidents over the holiday period hitting an all-time low.

For the first time in years the district has avoided a fatal accident over the Christmas period and, indeed, the accident figures were so low that police and hospital casualty units report one of the quietest years on record.

A police spokesman confirmed it was the most peaceful Christmas period for a long time. In Downpatrick alone, there were only three accidents — all minor — over the five-day Christmas break, and the story was the same in virtually all other stations in the district.

A spokesman for Downe Hospital said that only two people were admitted due to road accidents between Christmas Eve and December 28.

There’s no doubting ghat the big ‘Don’t Drink and Drive’ clampdown has been responsible. Most areas of the district were saturated by breathalyser units and the then normal police patrols followed up with vehicle checkpoints which netted more culprits.

The police spokesman said: “Christmas may be over, but the clampdown will go on. Statistics show that the holiday period was one of the safest on the roads for many years. With a similar clampdown on speeders and careless drivers, our roads could be much safer.”

DOWNPATRICK — The Inglis biscuit firm was fined a total of £250 at Downpatrick Court for selling underweight packages of biscuits.

The magistrate, Mr Wishart Mills, strongly rebuked the firm, commenting: “The amounts shown on the package should be there. It’s a serious matter if they are not.”

The Belfast firm admitted ten separate counts of selling underweight packets bought by a Department of Commerce inspector in Strangford on August 16.

A representative for the Department of Public Prosecutions said the firm had a “string of previous convictions”, four for selling underweight biscuits, including a conviction at Downpatrick Court in 1976.

A defence solicitor explained that the biscuit factory was undergoing changes to comply with EEC regulations. The firm accepted the packets were underweight. The change in operation meant the biscuits had to be weighed differently.

“A mistake had been spotted ad the firm took all reasonable steps to dispose of the underweight packages. However, this one box managed to get out by mistake,” the solicitor added.

“The magistrate heard that the bath of biscuits were taken off the market the next day.

BALLYNAHINCH — Cinema enthusiasts in Ballynahinch and district won’t have to travel far if they want to see all the top films because a new Millbrook Movie Show begins in the town’s hotel next week.

Starting on Tuesday night the Millbrook Lodge Hotel intends showing many of the top films — and they have Burt Reynolds starring in Mean Machine as their opening film.

Seats in the weekly feature film night will be only £1 — and if patrons cut out the advert in this week’s Recorder they will get a 25% reduction.

The men behind the Millbrook Movie Show are owner Jim Maguire and his friend, Robert Emerson. With no cinema serving Down District — the nearest are in Comber, Belfast, Bangor and Banbridge — they hope to cash in on what is a steady attraction.

“It’s a new outlet for the people of the town and district,” said Robert. “We offer top films at a cheap price and car facilities are available before and after the two-hour shows.

“We intend bringing recent prevent feature films — perhaps some of the big ones that locals have missed — and showing them in comfortable surroundings.”

NEWCASTLE — Newcastle Technical College won’t get its much-needed additional accommodation in 1980. In its allocation of funds for new capital works, the Department of Education is giving preference to schemes at primary and secondary schools, rather than further education centres such as technical schools.

A strong bid was made in November to the South Eastern Education and Library Board by local representatives Mrs Ethel Smyth and Mr Jarlath Carey to have greater priority given to the proposed conversion of the former Homa Engineering factory in Newcastle.

The Board voted against the motion by 15 votes to 11 when preparing their list of most essential schemes to be started this year and it seems that the Department has agreed with them.

CROSSGAR — A large number of children and adults attended the switching-on ceremony of the Crossgar Christmas tree.

Mr Denis Cahill extended a warm welcome to all present and the clergy taking part were the Rev James Lamont and Fr Gabriel Mary (readers) and the Rev Alan Parkhill, who led in prayer.

After the signing of the familiar carols, led by the choir of St Colmcille’s High School, under their conductor, Mr E Kerr, the lights were switched on by Tom O’Prey and Lesley Eynon, followed by a visit from Santa Claus, who distributed gifts of fruit and chocolate to all the children.

MOURNES — A new 40-bed youth hostel in the Mournes is to get financial backing from Newry and Mourne Council. The council is to hand over a cheque for £500 to the Youth Hostel Association of Northern Ireland.

The Association is also to receive £70,000 from the Department of Education in grant aid and hopes to get £140,000 from other government bodies, as well as raising £10,000 itself.

In a letter to the council, the Association pointed out that the Kinnahalla Youth Hostel at Spelga, near Hilltown, was in jeopardy if a proposed new reservoir to supply water to part of Belfast and North Down was carried out.

To celebrate the golden jubilee of thte Association in Northern Ireland in 1981, it proposed erecting a hostel at Dinnywater. During the past year the Association has raised £5,000 towards the project.

The council was told that the Mourne Mountains were the greatest tourist attraction in the area and that another youth hostel there was badly needed.

KILMORE — Crossgar Accordion Band, under their conductor, Mr James Ellison, rendered selections of Christmas music at a united carol service in Kilmore Parish Church on the Sunday before Christmas.

The combined choirs of Kilmore and Lissara led the congregation in the singing of well known carols and the lessons were read by Misses Maree Greer and Carol Maude, Mrs E M Morris, Mrs G Simpson, Messrs Matthew Cuffey and Mark Killen, Austen Nelson and Lord Lowry.

Miss Ruth Maude presided at the organ and the offering was in aid of Save the Children Fund. After the service supper was served to the congregation, for which Mr T J Hewitt returned thanks.

PORTAFERRY — A new rector has been instituted to serve the parishes of Ballyphilip and Ardquin in Portaferry. He is the Rev J P O Barry, who had five years’ service as curate with St Mark’s Parish, Dundela.

The institution was carried out by the Rt Rev George Quinn, Bishop of Down and Dromore. After the service the congregation were invited to tea on the parochial hall in Ann Street.

HORSE RACING — Bookmakers in Downpatrick aren’t looking forward to next Saturday when horses owned by two Downpatrick brothers could cost them a small fortune.

The horses, owned by Noel and Leo McGrady, have become the scourge of betting shops in the county town as they chalk up win after win in what has become their most successful season and next Saturday will see of them in action again.

DARTS — Sean Morgan lifted the first major trophy of the season in the Downpatrick and District Darts League when he won the Guinness individual tournament. The competition was held at the Slaney Inn, Raholp, in font of a capacity crowd.