From the pages of the Down Recorder, October 22, 1974

From the pages of the Down Recorder, October 22, 1974

22 October 2014

NEWCASTLE — Newcastle town committee, formed just seven weeks ago, has received an overwhelming mandate from townspeople to proceed with their proposals to make the area Northern Ireland’s number one holiday resort.

At their second public meeting, held in the Slieve Donard Hotel, the whole concept of the committee was given the green light by a large crowd who considered a ten-page report on the group’s activities. There was little doubt about the mood of the meeting and over the coming months the password for committee members will be ‘action.’

The report was engineered by a sub-committee of Mr. Martin Waddell, Mr. Bobby Thornton and Mr. R. E. Hill. In it, the present members say they will remain office until next October when they will hand over to newly-elected office bearers.

Primarily their functions will be to act as a liaison group on local and central government, to serve as a “complaints clearing house for both residents and visitors”, to ensure “intelligent week by week advertising of events and amenities” and to foster a good community spirit in the town.

There was some confusion about whether the committee existed to improve Newcastle for the visitor, or for residents. The chairman, Mr. John Toner, insisted they were there to work for the good of the town and that included working for the residents and to improve amenities for visitors.

Mr. Archie Cairns, a former chairman of Newcastle Urban district council, congratulated the committee on a “very inspiring document”  and added that he hoped the idea would succeed and that they would get the support they needed.

CROSSGAR — Members of Crossgar and district community association this week inspected Downe Hospital’s new accident ambulance and donated more than £400 towards its cost.

The donation was the proceeds of a coffee party held recently in the War Memorial Hall, Crossgar, at which the hospital’s consultant surgeon, Mr. J. S. Boyd, outlined the reasoning behind the introduction of the new ambulance.

Mrs. C. B. Williams, president of the association, presented the cheque to Mr. Boyd and among those present were Mr. Charles Bell, vice-president, Mr. William Cochrane, chairman, and Mr. George Flinn, the hospital’s district administrative officer.

DOWNPATRICK — Picket lines of Downpatrick breadservers — on a strike called by their union — moved into action when a van belonging to Arthur McCann’s Bakeries, of Newry, approached the town with a consignment of bread.

About 20 local breadservers stopped the van at Tullymurry and asked the driver to give them support by turning back. They explained that by bringing bread into the town he was cutting the throat of local breadservers who were only trying to get a proper deal for their customers.

He was allowed to proceed without any bother, but was “escorted” on his rounds by a number of local breadservers, who heckled him throughout. Some housewives at one  Downpatrick shop were angry about the deliveries and although they were regular customers, intimated their unwillingness to buy from McCann’s again.

The strike had been called in protest at the bulk supply of bread to supermarkets that enables them to sell loaves up to 4p cheaper than breadservers. This means that country customers, who cannot get into town, are paying more than those who shop in supermarkets.

The striking is hitting hard. Queues have been the order of the day, particularly at home bakeries as housewives try to meet household demands.

KILLYLEAGH — Three seven year-old Killyleagh schoolchildren learned this week that their entries in a national painting competition turned up trumps among 7,000 others.

The successful trip are members of St. Mary’s Primary School, Killyleagh, and they received special awards in a BP road safety competition. They are Bernice Rice, of Kerry Wind, Killyleagh; Julie Ann Tate, of Martin Grove, Shrigley; and Aengus Stewart, of Catherine Street, Killyleagh.

STRANGFORD — Men who come in contact with boats early in their lives are seldom found far from one. Billy Avington, of Strangford, belongs to this category.

He has 25 years of seagoing behind him. Currently he’s one of the Strangford ferry skippers by day and now he has just built a fishing boat to make sure he doesn’t waste too much of his spare time ashore. And unlike most women, his wife, Teresa, better known as Terry, is his number one enthusiast on this score.

In fact, the construction of the boat has been very much a partnership task. They built it together, painted it together, they will fish together and use the boat for an occasional holiday trip as a pair.

Last weekend three-and-a-half years of construction came to an end when more than 40 villagers turned up to to give Billy a hand. The problem was how best to move the boat from his rear garden to the water’s edge a few hundred yards away. It took six hours.

It was back in 1948 that Killard-born Billy first went to sea on coasters. He worked on many, including the well-known Cumbria, of which Capt. William Bennett, of Killyleagh, was master and ultimately owner.

BALLYNAHINCH — Some residents in Ballylone, near Ballynahinch, might well be wondering what has been causing the recent commotion in one of the fields in the locality. Well, they can put their minds at rest — the secret of the McKee brothers is out!

Tommy (6) and Noel (8) McKee are grass tracking enthusiasts and they’ve simply been getting some practice on their pint-sized motor cycle — an automatic 60cc Italian Fantichino — which was bought recently by their father, Dickie.”

ARDGLASS — A large crowd attended the annual meeting of Ardglass and district community association in St. Mary’s Hall.

Mr. Harry Hanna, outgoing secretary, explained the aims of the association whose central theme, he said, was to better the lives and living standards of the whole community of Ardglass and surrounding district.

The following new officers were elected: chairman, Albert Colmer; vice-chairman, Jimmy Murray; secretary, Ronan Fitzsimons; secretary, Harry Hanna; treasurer, George McGrath; assistant treasurer, Miss Phil Wallace; press secretary, Brian Fitzsimons. Committee: Emmett Lennon, Tom Cunningham, Mrs. Helen Williams and Brendan Mulhall.

INCH — The Badger Patrol of 1st Inch Scout Troop, under the able leadership of their patrol leader, Walter McCorkell, organised and carried out a successful sponsored cycle race in the Cahard area. The members of the patrol covered ten laps of a 4.5 mile circuit and all 15 scout entrants and one mother completed the distance without accident.

BALLYNAHINCH — Members and friends of Ballynahinch Rugby Club enjoyed themselves at the club’s annual wine and cheese party held in the Millbrook Lodge Hotel. It was a very successful evening and the sum of £150 was realised.

The ladies of the club had gone to great trouble in preparing the goodies and laid out quite a spread. Special tribute goes to John Hilliar and Jim Kirk for their excellent preparation and organisation.

Members of the club were delighted with the attendance of many friends from Lurgan, Belfast, etc., and even two young ladies from New South Wales were present.

LISTOODER — Members of Listooder LOL 1607, members of Alexander Memorial Pipe Band and their friends met in Kilmore Presbyterian Church Hall to celebrate the 42nd birthday of the band and to honour two of its founder members, Mr. William Nixon and Mr. John Glover.