From the pages of the Down Recorder, September 24, 1989

From the pages of the Down Recorder, September 24, 1989

24 September 2014

DOWNPATRICK — The former Irish Taoiseach, Dr. Garrett Fitzgerald, was the guest of honour at St. Patrick’s High School’s prize day on Friday.

Dr. Fitzgerald told the assembled audience of parents, teachers and pupils that he was delighted with the opportunity to address them – it was one of the few opportunities a lay person got to preach a sermon, he joked.

The former premier was one of the main architects of the Anglo-Irish agreement, but nowadays he confines his activities to those of a backbench TD in the Dail.

He drew on the example of his own life — a nationalist father born in London and a Presbyterian mother born in Northern Ireland — to speak on the need for an accommodation between the two traditions in Ireland.

The story of St. Patrick’s High School was one of continuing success, the principal, Bro. Fergus, said in his annual report. He said the GCSE results obtained by pupils were particularly impressive.

CASTLEWELLAN — Security forces carried a second search of the Mill Hill area of Castlewellan last week after a renewed warning of a terrorist device in the area. A number of homes and a factory were evacuated on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as part of the search operation.

It was fifth successive day the main road into the town from Annsborough had been blocked off. Last Tuesday morning the area was sealed off after telephone calls were received claiming that a hijacked Vauxhall car contained an explosive device.

CARRICKMANNON — The Carrickmannon Primary School appeal for £700,000 to fund a special scanner for the Royal Victoria Hospital is gaining momentum at a fast rate. Within weeks of its launch it is approaching £30,000, with a lot of profitable diary dates ahead.

A half-mile road race in Ballygowan recently attracted teams of amateur and professional coalmen, each doing his best to sprint along with a bag of coal on his back.

They raised £3,000 through sponsorship, an auction of donated items and a ballot for such prizes as a microwave oven, a half-ton of coal and various other prizes. On Saturday two Killinchy Primary School teachers, vice-principal Victor Brown and Mike Braithwaite, raised a substantial sum by undertaking a sponsored cycle to Dublin and back.

Mrs. Elizabeth Montgomery, recently retired principal of Carrickmannon Primary School, who launched the appeal, is expecting it to be given charity status shortly. She is happy that comedian Frank Carson has promised to make it one of the beneficiaries at his next big golfing match, the proceeds of which go to charities.

BALLYNAHINCH — Ballynahinch man Stephen Jones is currently on top of the world — thanks to his skill with a micro-light aircraft. Stephen can regularly be seen soaring through the skies in his tiny aircraft which weighs a mere 150 kilos and is capable of speeds up to 70mph.

A member of the British Micro-Light Aircraft Association, Stephen only took up the sport three years ago during a holiday in Portugal. The flying bug really bit when he fell into company with two other devotees of the sport and he soon learned the ropes.

Does he fly on the proverbial wing and a prayer? “I was terrified at the start, but I soon learned to relax,” he said. “Actually it’s a bit like riding a motorbike.”

CROSSGAR — The urgent need for a new health clinic in Crossgar has been raised at the Down District Health Committee. Last week Ulster Unionist councillor Mr. Albert Colmer raised the need for the Eastern Health Board to replace the temporary portacabins in Crossgar with a permanent health clinic.

At the health committee meeting last week party colleague Mr. Sam McCartney urged that consideration should be given to the provision of the new clinic in Crossgar. He said: “I am pleased that a commitment has been given for the provision of this long overdue clinic.”

SAINTFIELD — the former minister of Second Saintfield Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Jim Rogers, returns to his former congregation this Sunday.

Mr. Rogers, who was minister from 1955 to 1965, will conduct the morning service and will be accompanied by his wife, Doris. Mr. Rogers left Saintfield to join the congregation at Ryehill Roseangle Church in Dundee where he is still minister.

During his time at Second Saintfield a new church hall was opened and he formed the Second Saintfield company of the Boys’ Brigade, of which he was captain. Mrs. Rogers is a former captain of the local Girls’ Brigade company.

NEWCASTLE —— Newcastle couple Pierce and Mary McConvey received a surprising £1,000 boost from a recent shopping trip. They won the first accumulator prize at Carryduff Centre and on Monday revisited the centre to collect their cheque from Mr. Raymond Brown, manager of the Carryduff branch of the Ulster Bank.

As part of the prize they were asked to nominate a charity to which the Carryduff Centre would donate £100. Pierce and Mary chose the USPCA.

KILLYLEAGH — AT the annual meeting of Killyleagh Women’s Institute Mrs. A Vance was re-elected president and Miss Z. McAllister was nominated to serve as the Institute’s international member. Mrs. G. McMordie, of Strangford, was the chairman, and the tellers were Mrs. Bradshaw and Mrs. Fitzsimmons.

BALLOO — The first in a series of concerted at Ballee House given by members of the Ulster Orchestra took place last night and was an outstanding success.

There was a large audience at the Killinchy restaurant for the visit of the Orion String Quartet, whose programme consisted of pieces by Schubert and Tchaikovsky. The next concert is on October 7 when the Belfast Wind Quartet will perform a programme including Mozart, Mendelssohn and Gershwin.

BALLYWALTER — A Ballywalter company, which has beaten foreign competition to become one of the UK producers of menswear, has announced the creating of 50 new jobs in a £500,000 expansion.

Employment at Copeland Clothes Ltd. has risen to 180 and the company plans to recruit a further 20 employees by the end of the year. The firm makes men’s suits, jackets and trousers for major British High Street stores.

Copeland Clothes is currently producing 2,000 suits each week, but according to the managing director, Mr. Ian Herbert, there aren’t enough to satisfy demand.

BALLYHORNAN — Members of the Venture section of the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland will be converging on Ballyhornan at the end of October for a special adventure weekend. Venturers from all over Ireland are expected to attend the event, billed as ‘The One World Adventure Weekend.’

NEWCASTLE — TV chief Michael Grade will be one of the main speakers at as conference organised by the British Institute of Management which opens in Newcastle tomorrow.

The former controller of the BBC and now chief executive of Channel 4 will be speaking at the ‘Winning in the World League’ conference, which is being held in the Slieve Donard Hotel.

RACECOURSE — Vandals are threatening the restoration and improvement programme at Downpatrick racecourse. A recent upsurge in attacks at the course has meant that money earmarked for improvements to facilities is being redirected to repair windows and doors broken by the vandals.

Course registrar Mr. Iain Duff explained this week that after a relatively trouble-free summer the vandals have returned, causing increasing amounts of damage.

In the latest attack 500 gallons of diesel were drained from a tank, two windows were broken and large new fire doors to a snack room were forced open.

Mr. Duff said he had no doubt the damage was caused by children and he appealed for the vandalism to stop. “If anybody sees any children walking in the racecourse area who appear to be up to no good, I would ask them to get in touch with me as quickly as possible.”