From the pages of the Down Recorder, July 8, 1975

From the pages of the Down Recorder, July 8, 1975

8 July 2015

NEWCASTLE — A Newcastle police sergeant’s swimming prowess saved the life of a bather at Newcastle beach in one of the seaside resort’s most dramatic water rescues.

Sergeant Merville Ashton, who holds life saving certificates, was the only man on the beach who was a strong enough swimmer to reach the danger spot.

The 28 year-old policeman, a member of the RUC water polo team, plunged into the water as someone cried for help for a swimmer in trouble about 200-300 yards from the shore.

He brought the drowning man as near the beach as he could, then organised a human chain to pull him the rest of the way.

When Sergt Ashton later spoke to a reporter he played down the rescue and instead gave all credit to a second man who helped organise the chain.

Despite Sergt Ashton’s modesty, his wife Hilda, who watched the rescue from the beach with their two children, said she was very proud of her husband.

“All I could see for a long time were the two bobbing heads and they were fairly far out,” she said. “I became just a little worried for a time, but it all ended happily.”

The bather, a Banbridge man, was taken to Downe Hospital, Downpatrick, where he was later discharged

KILLYLEAGH — One local clergyman returned home with a tired voice this week. Another, and one of his parishioners, complained of tired legs.

Their reason was that they had taken part in the marathon effort to raise funds for the Spnia Bifida and Action Cancer charities at the sponsored sermon in Larne at the weekend.

Last week the Recorder told you of how the Rev James Harper and David Dickson, from First Killyleagh Presbyterian Church, were planning to cycle to Larne on a tandem to back up the efforts of the Rev Robert McKee, of Killinchy, and Rev Robin Williamson, of Larne.

Now we can tell you that the cycling duo have raised almost £260 and as their sponsorship period has not yet closed they have hopes of topping the £300 mark.

ARDGLASS — The Ardglass seaman who was kept alive on a kidney machine in a London hospital has been transferred to the City Hospital, Belfast.

The family of merchant seaman David Mackay, of Parkside, offered their kidneys to save his life after he had collapsed on his ship in Rotterdam harbour and was rushed to hospital in Holland.

In his bed in St. Philip’s Hospital, London, he thanked his family for all they were doing for him.

At the beginning of the week his father Arthur and brothers Ross and Arthur offered their kidneys. Mr Mackay thought it was likely that one of his brothers would be the donor.

It is thought he will spend a few days in hospital before going home to recuperate for the operation which could save his life.

Mr Mackay is a native of Rosshire in Scotland, but has lived in Ardglass for the past five years. His wife’s name is Helen and they have two sons, Harry, aged six, and David, aged four.

“I had been suffering from pains in my stomach for some time, but then I finally collapsed,” he said. “I don’t feel bad now, but I have lost a lot of weight.”

KILCLIEF — The Department of the Environment’s promise to minimise waste disposal at Kilclief to 5,000 gallons per week is to be watched closely by Down Council public health officers.

The Department agreed to the restrictions after a protest and blockade by local people several months ago, but as yet not even the revised amount has been allowed through.

A heavily trailer remains parked across the entrance to the disposal unit and no sewage has been discharged there in the past ten weeks.

Mr. John Ritchie, local councillor, said that even with a ten-week lay-off there is still an acute problem and he urged public health officials to keep an eye on the unit.

BALLYNAHINCH — Six year-old Aidan Lowery found himself a new chum last week — and decided that everyone ought to know about it.

So Aidan, of Magheratimpany Road, Ballynahinch, sent off a letter to the Recorder and asked us to help publicise the event.

In this case, his chum, which he has named Sue, definitely deserves a mention for it’s a newly-born piebald donkey, something unusual, although not uncommon.

Aidan explained that he was taken aback at the arrival of his friend, for neither he nor his parents, Sean and Patricia, had been aware of the fact that Sally — the donkey given to Aidan as a Christmas present — was about to give them an addition.

He was surprised that it was piebald, but already he and his brothers, Colin (4), Shane (3) and Mark (1) have grown to like it and are set for many hours of fun.

CROSSGAR — The Crossgar and district community deeply regretted the passing of Mrs Hanna Catherine Bell, wife of the late Charles Bell, of Downpatrick Street, Crossgar. She was 85.

Hers was an ever open door in the most complimentary sense and her generosity was boundless. More than anything else, she appreciated family unity and after her husband’s death some years ago she was its acknowledged head.

She is survived by four sons, Kevin, Charles, Dan and Eamon, and by three daughters, Mrs Mary Lemieux in Cleveland, Mrs Norrie McHugh and Miss Joan Bell.

COMBER — More than 60 bands and 2,000 Orangemen from the Comber, Ballynahinch, Saintfield, Lecale and Castlewellan districts will be converging on Comber for the annual Twelfth of July celebrations.

The Comber district will parade the town at 9am and make their way to the assembly field on the Ballygowan Road where the visiting lodges should be arriving from around 10.30am. The main procession will leave the Ballygowan Road at 12.30pm  and proceed to the demonstration field on the Killinchy Road where platform proceedings will commence at 2.30pm.

DUNDRUM — If you’re looking for three out of the ordinary days out at the start of the Twelfth fortnight, then you need not go further than Dundrum.

Tuesday sees the beginning of a programme full of spectacle that will make the peaceful village far more than a place to drive through on the way to more fashionable Newcastle.

If you need to be told Tuesday sees the beginning of a regatta and sports festival that takes in a variety of entertainment far beyond anything on offer at the same time within reasonable driving distance

On the organisational side there could not be greater enthusiasm. Typically, the officials under Mr Dan McNeill, chairman, and Mr. Russ Whatmough, secretary, do things well.

KILMORE — The Pegwood Kennels, of Church Road, Kilmore, have been chalking up successes at dog shows all over Ireland for the past number of years. But since its owner, Bob Douglas, took ill lately, it had failed to 

feature in the headlines.

However, having recuperated, Bob made his return to the big time on Saturday in Dundalk when his red setters and springers immediately bounced back into the prize list.

SAINTFIELD — A very large crowd turned up at Saintfield on Friday night to see the ‘Mini Twelfth’ parade. Altogether 14 bands and the various lodges Orange Lodges from the Saintfield district participated.

DOWNPATRICK— The continued spell of dry weather last week kept Downpatrick firemen busy once again with another spate of fires.

On Thursday they attended a gorse fire at the Quoile, while on Friday they fought a gorse fire at Chapeltown for almost two hours. Later that day they were called to a hedge fire at Chapeltown.

On Sunday firemen dealt with a fire at Patterson’s shed in Church Street, Downpatrick, and a gorse fire at Coiley Hill, Killyleagh. On Monday they were back in Chapeltown to deal with another hedge fire.