From the pages of the Down Recorder, November 15, 1977

From the pages of the Down Recorder, November 15, 1977

15 November 2017

DOWNPATRICK — The Dean of Down told a packed congregation in Down Cathedral, Downpatrick, that if Remembrance Sunday was to have any meaning in Northern Ireland in modern times, then it was a challenge to everyone to restore peace and reconciliation.

The Dean, the Very Rev R W Kilpatrick, said: “It is a challenge to clergy and politicians to do all in their power by getting together and talking and working on the things we have in common instead of bickering and fighting about the things that divide us.

“This means keeping our minds and hearts free from all bitterness, malice and hatred, and being ready to trust and forgive. If we do not live together as children of God, irrespective of whether we are Protestant or Roman Catholic, black or white, we are building a poor future for our young boys and girls.

“By our example and by our gratitude let us prove that the sacrifice of those who died in two world conflicts and of those 1,796 who died here in the last eight years has not been in vain.

“When the call came in 1914 and again in 1939 nobody was asked if he was a Protestant or a  Roman Catholic. Every man was needed, Christian or non-Christian.”

CASTLEWELLAN — Mr Kenneth McCammon has been appointed as the new principal of Castlewellan County Secondary School. He replaces the present principal, Mr R W Bailie, who is retiring at the end of this year.

Mr McCammon is the present vice-principal and has taught at Castlewellan since 1965. He is a former pupil of Down High School.

His first appointment at Castlewellan was that of assistant teacher of mathematics. Later he was appointed head of the mathematics department with special responsibility for promoting outdoor activities. He became vice-principal in 1974.

Mr McCammon, who is married with two children and lives in Dundrum, is a keen sportsman and a member of Downpatrick Cricket Club.

NEWCASTLE — The dubious honour of being the first skateboard casualty to be admitted to Downe Hospital goes to a 15 year-old Newcastle boy.

Patrick Laverty, of Bryansmore Park, was taken to the hospital with a broken writ when he fell off his skateboard while riding it in Tollymore Forest on Sunday afternoon.

Patrick was kept in the hospital overnight and a heavy plaster cast was put on his arm. The accident happened when Patrick skated into mud left on a path by a group of cyclists. Luckily a doctor was nearby and he was able to put a splint on Patrick’s arm.

One of Patrick’s teachers at Newcastle Technical College was also at Tollymore and he drove Patrick home. He was then rushed to Downe Hospital.

Patrick was wearing no protective clothing when he fell off his skateboard. He said that he had fallen off it several times before, but had never sustained any serious injury.

Skateboarding certainly gives the kids a lot of fun, but Patrick’s accident shows that it can also be quite a dangerous sport.

Once his plaster cast is off Patrick hopes to to ride his skateboard again — but this time he will be wearing protective clothing.

BALLYKEEL — One soldier was killed and two others were seriously injured when a lorry they were travelling in overturned at Ballykeel crossroads on the Ballynahinch-Dromore Road on Monday.

Part-time firemen from Dromore were called out to free the men from the cab and a crane and a mechanical digger were used to hoist the vehicle out of a ditch.

PORTAFERRY — Antique hunters from all over the continent and Britain turned out in force on Monday and Tuesday in an attempt to outbid each other at the auctioning of the contents of Portaferry House.

Over 600 lots were put up for auction and at the end of the two-day event more than £130,000 had been raised.

The stately home was filled to capacity and for seven hours on each of the two days wealthy visitors feasted on exhibits which included French and English furnishings, Dutch paintings and Georgian portraits.

The articles auctioned were the possessions of one of Ulster’s historic families, the Savages. Lady Nughent is the last of the Savage family to live in the house. Two brothers, who were officers in the Coldsgtream Guards, were killed in the 1939-45 war and now the family treasures, accumulated since 1660, will find their way to new homes and museums.

Indeed, it is strongly rumoured that the whole Nugent estate may soon be on there market, though no one was available at Portaferry House to confirm this.

BALLYNAHINCH — A Ballynahinch woman has won a weekend holiday for two away from it all at the Palace Casino Hotel in the Isle of Man.

Mrs Betty Grant won her prize in a ballot organised by The Squire menswear shop in Ballynahinch as part of their second anniversary celebrations.

To enter the ballot customers had to buy at least £25 worth of goods from the shop. Mrs Grant can take her weekend holiday any time before next March. Runner-up gift vouchers of £20 and £10 were also presented to two lucky customers.

KILLOUGH — Killough coastguard Tom Bell was presented with an auxiliary long service medal on Saturday by Commander Neill, Inspector of HM Coastguard NI.

Members of Killough coastguard station, Killough rescue company and the district company turned up for the presentation to Mr Bell after 20 years’ service.

CARRYDUFF — Carryduff mayor Alderman L W Farrngton received the Best Kept Small Town award on behalf of the residents yesterday afternoon.

Alderman Farrington received the Telegraph Trophy from the managing director of the Belfast Telegraph at a function, which was attended by schoolchildren and youth organisations in the district.

The competition was organised by the Central Gardens Association, whose chairman is Professor A E Muskett. A Castlereagh Council spokesman said two of the reasons why Carryduff did so well in the competition was the neat appearance of many of its gardens and the lack of litter in its streets.

HILLSBOROUGH — Police have warned turkey breeders to be on their guard to prevent a spate of turkey rustling coming up to Christmas. The warning has been issued following the theft of 12 turkeys from a farm in Hillsborough.

CLOUGH — A special service to mark the rebuilding of the church in Clough Presbyterian Church was held on Friday.

About 250 members of the Clough and Seaforde congregations attended the service at which an offering was taken for the organ fund. Later, Mr R J McCall spoke on behalf of the Clough congregation and Mr H W Croskery spoke on behalf of the Seaforde members.

SOCCER — Downpatrick Rec’s early season dreams of reaching the final of the money-spinning Steel & Sons Cup competition became a reality when they swept aside the challenge of famed cup fighters Chimney Corner with a 1-0 win at Solitude.

Finishing the much better team, Downpatrick fully deserved their glorious win which earns them a crack at Ballyclare Comrades in the Christmas Day final which is scheduled for either Solitude or Seaview.

The Rec, cheered on by a sea of red-clad supporters, proved their point that they are good enough to take on the best by making much fancied Chimney Corner their fourth Irish League B Division team to crash out at their hands in the competition this year.

The only goal of the game came in the 65th minute when Paddy Kelly and Barney Fitzsimons combiners to set up the chance which Donal Bell took with clinical accuracy.

Downpatrick: T Curran, J Prior, J Connolly, P Mulhall, P Kelly, H Conlon, S Breen, S McCormick, A Rice, D Bell, B Fitzsimons, Sub: J Leckey.