From the pages of the Down Recorder, September 2, 1992

From the pages of the Down Recorder, September 2, 1992

31 August 2022

DOWNPATRICK – The governors of a Downpatrick school have warned that an “horrific accident” could occur unless there is a reduction in the number of children carried on school buses.

In a letter to education chiefs the governors of Down High School say they “strongly disapprove” that on some occasions more than 75 pupils have left their school on a scheduled Ulsterbus. 

The governors accept that Ulsterbus is not breaking any laws by carrying so many pupils, but they are calling for an amendment to the Road Traffic Act to restrict the number of children legally allowed to be carried on a normal bus route.

The Governors claim there is a “contradiction in the attitude” of Ulsterbus regarding public transport and private school trips.

They highlight the fact that if the school hires an Ulsterbus for a trip by 75 pupils then the law of private hire means a second bus would be required for such a number.

In their letter the Governors claims such a large number creates considerable fear and apprehension among younger pupils, worried about being crushed or pushed.

They also claim such numbers make it impossible for the driver to exercise any real control and that there is the possibility of a horrific accident occurring.

“The dread is that it will require a major accident before the problem of overcrowding is addressed,” said school principal Mr Jack Ferris.

KILLYLEAGH – A fresh bid is to be made to sell the former Killyleagh High School. The South Eastern Education and Library Board are to seek planning permission for a whole range of possible developments in a bid to speed up the sale of the former school.

The building, which has been empty since the school closed in June 1991, is proving difficult to sell and has been badly vandalised.

At Thursday’s monthly meeting of the board it was agreed that concerted attempts must be made to sell the building and ease the capital budget problem which currently bedevils the Board.

Board officials are now to compile a list of possible developments for the site which will then be submitted for planning permission.

It is hoped that obtaining planning permission for the site will make it much more attractive to potential developers.

ARDGLASS – The amount of fish landed at Ardglass last year rose by over 1,000 tonnes, it has been revealed.

Trawlermen at the local port landed 4,305 tonnes in the financial year which ended in March, compared with 3,252 the previous year, according to the annual report of the Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority.

However, the value of the fish decreased with the fishermen netting just £2.3m in 1991/92, compared with £2.4m during 1990/91.

The report, which was published last week, shows that Ardglass has the biggest increase of fish landed, with Kilkeel showing a rise of just over 400 tonnes and Portavogie’s total falling by over 600 tonnes. 

The Authority has also reported that the major extension to the south pier is expected to be completed in October 1992, thanks to the mild winter, with little or no severe weather conditions to hamper constuction.

“At its inception, the placing of heavy rock armouring to the seaward side of the south pier and to the junction of the new extension had an immediate subduing effect on he wave movement within the port, so much so that during the past winter the local skippers have been able to discard the heavy mooring lines used in previous years,” says the report.

CROSSGAR – The relocation of the Ulster Wildlife Trust in Crossgar has been hailed as “an important and significant development” for the conservation organisation.

Commenting in the Trust’s annual report, Director Dick Jones says that the organisation’s new headquarters in the former Kilmore Hall and its centre in the grounds of Tobar Mhuire monastery offer “both a valuable education resource and the potential to raise our public profit in the promotion of conservation.”

He added: It is important that the opportunity to realise this potential,” is not squandered.

Since January, meetings of the Ulster Wildlife Trust Council have been taking place in the renovated Kilmore Hall in Crossgar’s town square, and the administrative machinery of the organisation, including development and training is also handled from the base.

CASTLEWARD – The Castleward cornmill, dating back more than 200 years, is well on its way to becoming an interpretive centre for milling in Ireland.

Its restoration completes the reinstatement of original activities in the estate farmyard, which were ingeniously water-powered by an underground system of ducts more than a mile in length.

The project manager, Dr Fred Hammond, an industrial archeologist, took a large party of visitors on tour explaining the history and development of the estate, which was acquired in 1590 by the Ward family, originally from Cheshire.

He described the restoration of the sawmill, the carpenter’s shop and the mill, believed to be last used about eighty years ago. 

Although quite primitive and virtually complete, it is on record as having produced several sacks of meal each week for estate use in 1770.

TYRELLA – Throughout its 150 year history, Tyrella Parish Church has had its fair share of unusual incidents. In 1846 the famous steamship the SS Great Britain ran aground within sight of the church; during the Second World War, stray shells from Ballykinler camp damaged the facade of the building; and on another occasion only the quick actions of local people saved it from being burnt to the ground on Christmas Day.

As parishioners gather later this month to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the consecration of the church, the unique history of this long-standing ecclesiastical centre has been unveiled in a new booklet produced by local historian Albert Colmer.

‘Tyrella Parish Church: An Historial Account’ traces the fortunes of the Church of Ireland in the remote seaside area from its early Christian origins to its position today as a rural seat of worship.

Although the church building is only a century and a half old, the roots of Christianity in Tyrella go back much further. An old church existed in the parish as early as the 11th or 12th century.

CARRYDUFF – The Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band success story continued to flourish in Scotland at the weekend.

Coming hot on the heels of the World Championship, the Carryduff band carried off the coveted Champion of Champions title at Dunoon. 

Led by Pipe Major Richard Parkes, the band won four out of five national championships to pip their newest rivals, Strathclyde Police, by five points in the international piping league table.

This is the first time that a non-Scottish band has ever won the World, British, Scottish and Cowal titles in the same year. In addition they were also runners-up in the European championship.

KILLINCHY – Top class international motocross will be returning to Killinchy next year.

The Killinchy Motor-Cycle Club, which hosted the Irish round of the 250cc World Championship in June, looks almost certain to be given a round of the British Four-Stroke Championship.

Although the club would have preferred either the 250cc or 500cc championships, officials are inwardly delighted at the prospect of bringing another major event to Killinchy.

Clerk of the course, George McCann said: Our members are as enthusiastic as ever.”