From the pages of the Down Recorder, October 29, 1974

From the pages of the Down Recorder, October 29, 1974

29 October 2014

DOWNPATRICK — Police are still hunting for three men who escaped with an undisclosed sum of money in a wages snatch near Downpatrick.

The men held up a car on its way to Grayson Fabrics, Saul Road, and made off with the wages for the 70 employees. The men wore stockings over their faces and one jumped out and held up the driver with a revolver.

The two men in the wages car were unharmed and the raiders later fled in an Austin 1800 towards the Killyleagh Road. Police set up roadblocks in a widespread search for the trio, but they slipped through the net.

A spokesman for the company, who make candlewick bedspreads, said he was baffled by he raid. Each the car bringing the wages changes its time and route to avoid any mishap, but the raiders were obviously lying in wait. Provision was made right away to pay all the factory’s employees within hours of the snatch.

Police are particularly interested in hearing from a lady who was accompanied by a child and was seen driving on the Killyleagh Road at around 10.15am. If anyone has any information they are asked to contact the police at Downpatrick 2222 or use the confidential telephone, Downpatrick 3434.

BALLYKINLAR — Thanks to the efforts of the wives’ club of the Duke of Edinburgh Royal Regiment, currently stationed at Ballykinlar Camp, another guide dog has been bought for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. At a presentation ceremony at the camp, Mrs. W. G. R. Turner, wife of the camp’s commanding officer, handed over a cheque for £500 to Mrs. C. Squier, of Newcastle.

The story started back in July 1973 when the regiment first arrived at the camp. Some of the wives of the men decided to save enough silver paper to try to raise the money for a dog. However, they soon found that the complete cost of buying and paying for the training of the dog was likely to exceed £500. Undeterred, the wives decided to raise the money by various methods.

The wives say that not all the credit lies with them and they tell the Recorder that recognition must be given to Mr. H. Warren, headmaster of Tyrella Primary School, and all his pupils.

BALLYNAHINCH — The importance of providing top-flight facilities in new libraries was emphasised at the official opening of a new branch in Ballynahinch — the most modern of its type in County Down.

The building at Main Street also accommodates a health centre. Since it came into use about six months ago, the number of borrowers has increased by more than a third. The stock of books has been doubled and it also accommodates the county’s first gramophone record library.

In terms of space the new library is six times bigger than the single room formerly used at the headquarters building at Windmill Hill, which is too far away from the centre of the town’s activities to be of purposeful use as a branch.

Anyone anxious to know more should contact Mrs. Ruby Hunter, the branch librarian.

NEWCASTLE — Donard Lodge, the summer residence of the Annesley family in Newcastle, may well be rebuilt soon. Mr. G. F. Annesley has received outline planning permission to rebuild the home on its former site overlooking Donard Park.

The building was destroyed by fire during the war and its granite walls demolished by the army in 1966 because of their dangerous state.

DUNDRUM — Local councillor Jarleth Carey seems to be disgusted with the Department of Agriculture these days. For this week he heard that the department had completed a feasibility study on developing Dundrum Bay and decided that the disadvantages would not justify the costs.

Mr. Carey said it was a pity that the department did not conduct a feasibility study before coming to Down Council with the scheme as this had raised the hopes of the people. He then accused them of causing bad feeling in the area as a result of their actions.

Inevitably people with a vested interest in the development of the inner bay had clashed with those who opposed such a scheme.

CROSSGAR — More than £100 was raised at a successful jumble sale held in the War Memorial Hall, Crossgar. It was organised by the Crossgar and District Community Association to help finance the cost of the old people’s recent outing.

LOUGHINISLAND — Over 60 members of Loughinisland GAC participated in a sponsored walk which should realise a target of around £1,000. The walkers gathered at Loughinisland Parochial Hall at 11am and covered the 20-mile route via Farranfad, Magheraleggan, Bucks Head, Annacloy, Teconnaught, Drumaness, Brennan’s Corner and back to the hall.

SEAHORNAN — A 42 year-old Seahornan resident was beaten up when he answered a knock at his door on Saturday night. Three men followed him into his house and beat him to the ground. He was later taken to Downe Hospital and detained over the weekend. His condition was described as “not serious.”

DOWNPATRICK — Hopes that shoddy derelict housing in Downpatrick may be a thing of the pat were raised at the district council when the public health inspector, Mr. Frank Nixon, decided to investigate the situation.

The issue was brought up by Mr. John Ritchie, who referred to the dangers confronting children playing in derelict houses. If these houses were boarded up, he said, it would also stop rat infestation.

New councillor Mr. Sean Quinn said that these type of houses, especially around New Bridge Street and Scotch Street, were a fire hazard for juveniles and Mr. Cecil Maxwell backed his call for improvements.

LISTOODER — A motor cyclist received a broken leg, a broken arm and internal injures when he collided with a tractor travelling in the same direction at Listooder Hill on the Ballynahinch to Crossgar road. He was Albert Douglas, of Church Road, and he was conveyed to Downe Hospital

BALLYNAHINCH — Ballynahinch girl Pamela McKibben is in line for a seven-day Mediterranean holiday as the “most promising receptionist of the year.”

For 18 year-old Pamela, a receptionist at the Millbrook Lodge Hotel has just won the regional final held in Lurgan for receptionists from Down and Armagh.

Pamela, from Mountview Road, will be guest of honour at a gala banquet taking place on November 5 at the Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle, at which the overall winner will be announced.

Pamela, who referred to the competition as a “good experience,” but found the publicity “slightly embarrassing,” received her winner’s sash at a reception held in the Millbrook Lodge Hotel earlier this week.

Mr. Billy Hastings, chairman of the Hastings Hotels Group and president of the NI Hotels and Caterers Association, which organised the competition, said it was a most searching competition.

KILLINCHY — Five members of Killinchy Girls’ Brigade will be among the 709 Duke of Edinburgh Gold award holders who will receive their honours at Buckingham Palace. They are: Elizabeth Hayes, Rosemary Jellie, Sarah McCreery, Daphne McKinney and Lorna Stevenson.

NEWCASTLE — Two hikers discovered the body of a man at a seven foot in the Glen River, Newcastle. He was Mr. William Edward James Norman (47), who came from the Newtownards Road area of Belfast. He was reported missing two weeks ago.

CRICKET — Downpatrick Cricket Club received the trophies for the senior league and junior league championships at a dinner held in Balmoral. Hugh Linehan, captain of the first eleven, was presented with the senior league trophy. Mervyn Strutt, second eleven captain, received the junior league trophy. At the same function Alfie Linehan, as captain of the Ulster Country team, received the Guinness Cup.