From the pages of the Down Recorder, April 16, 1974

From the pages of the Down Recorder, April 16, 1974

KILLYLEAGH — Angry residents of Killyleagh’s shore area — annoyed by redevelopment plans which could mean resettlement outside the town centre — will have an opportunity to put their views to the Housing Executive.

Local councillor, Col. Denys Rowan-Hamilton, has arranged for a detailed survey to be undertaken and the Executive won’t press ahead with rehousing plans until this has been finished and given an airing.

Col. Rowan-Hamilton and several local residents met the area manager and other Executive personnel at Killyleagh Castle to discuss the plans for the area. Afterwards Col. Rowan-Hamilton said the area manager had not realised that a large number of Irish Street residents were elderly. If the Irish Street development could contain a specially designed complex for pensioners, he could guarantee that they would be rehoused in the area.

Thirty-two homes are due to be demolished in first phase development plans for Irish Street, Shore Street, Seaview and Patterson’s Row. Two sites have already been chosen to rehouse families at Frederick Street and Nelson’s Field, behind the Comber Road housing estate.

Over the past few weeks residents have become angry and suspicious because the Executive would give no guarantee that they could move back when development of the shore area was complete.

High Street shopkeeper, Mr. John Hamilton, has organised a petition highlighting their concerns and he has received full support.

NEWCASTLE — Members of Newcastle Baptist Church congregation have mounted a peaceful protest outside the Palace Cinema this week at the showing of the film Jesus Christ Superstar. They will be there again tonight.

Pastor James Irvine made it clear that they are not protesting against the cinema management. “We are concerned that the film gives the impression that God drove Christ to the cross, whereas we believe He went willingly,” Mr. Irvine said.

“It belittles Christ. It is blasphemous and makes Christ a mere man. We hold that He was more than that.”

Mr. Irvine said that neither he nor any of the 30 or 40 members of his congregation involved in the protest had seen the film, but based their opinion on what they had read about it. While they regretted that the film had been brought to Newcastle, for it gave young people the wrong impression of Christ, they were not suggesting the introduction of local censorship.

“Ours is a quiet, peaceful protest,” he said. “We have not talked to or shouted at people. This is a democratic country and people can go to a film like this if they want. But we want to express our opinion.

DOWNPATRICK — Downpatrick is to have the first Trades Union Working Men’s Club in Ireland. Work on the ambitious project is almost completed and will open on May 1.

The club is at the former Northern Bank offices in English Street and will be one of the biggest in the UK. To be opened by Down District Trades Union, it will serve 15,000 trade unionists in the area.

The club was granted a seven-day licence for a bar and lounge and immediately fixed the ‘May Day’ opening date. For Down District Trades Union, it will be realisation of a 15-year dram and they don’t intend to stop there.

The ultimate aim is to purchase land and build a bigger and better working men’s club within five years, says Brian McKinney, club secretary.

The two men behind the original idea are president Mr. Andy Hampton and chairman Mr. John Magennis. The club committee was set up only last October, but since then conversion work has bowled along.

ARDGLASS — Ardglass townspeople will honour the achievements of local boxer Ray Ross, Irish amateur lightweight champion, at an Easter Sunday night function. A presentation jointly sponsored by the newly formed community association and the GAA and soccer clubs will be made to him at a dance organised by the local youth and social club.

Ray is a well known sportsman, but not just for his prowess in the ring. He is also a keen golfer and a member of both football clubs. He has been chosen to box for Ireland in a forthcoming international tournament against Italy.

CROSSGAR — Mr. Robert Fitzsimons, of Killyleagh Street, Crossgar, who retired recently from the Post Office, was presented with a valedictory letter from the Director of Posts at a social evening in Newcastle recently.

Mr. Fitzsimons started his Post Office career at Crossgar in 1927 and worked there first as a boy messenger and then as postman. When the Crossgar mail delivery was transferred to Downpatrick, Mr. Fitzsimons was transferred to the new office and continued to serve the Crossgar area until his retirement.

CASTLEWELLAN — Two motorists had a narrow escape from injury when a branch crumpled the roof of their car. Mrs. F. M. A. Torrens-Spence was driving a Maxi into Castle-wellan when the incident occurred. She was accompanied by her elderly aunt. They got out unhurt.

CLOUGH — Clough Branch of the Ulster Farmers’ union is back in business after a two-year lay-off. Last week a new committee was elected at a meeting called to revive the branch. The new chairman is Mr. Norman Robinson.

One of the branch’s first move was a call for the implementation of two drainage schemes at Clough Barn and Clough Bog. The main complaint was the smell during a dry spell caused by sewage which comes out into one stream.

The meeting also felt that ministry officials acting on brucellosis examinations could be responsible for spreading the disease. An official may inspect one brucellosis herd and then make a second inspection on the same day on a disease free herd and could be spreading the disease.

SEAFORDE — A dozen sheep have died this week in incidents caused by dogs. In the Seaforde-Clough area farmers report ten animals lost.

Police warn owners to keep their dogs under control and to pay the licence fee of 30 pence for the first dog and 50 pence for two. There are reports of dogs being dumped in isolated parts of the country and roaming farms in search of food.

BOARDMILLS — After two years of little activity on the Boardmills courts, a great effort has been made to put the club back on the map. It was therefore very encouraging that 19 members attended the annual meeting, which was held in the clubhouse.

Club nights will be Mondays and Wednesdays, and Saturday afternoons. Junior night is on Fridays and senior members will be on hand to coach the younger members. The opening day tournament will be held on Saturday, April 27, and it is hoped that every member will make a special effort to attend.

RAHOLP — A very successful coffee party held by Downpatrick Combat Cancer Group and organised by Mrs. John Orr and friends, took place in the Slaney Inn, Raholp, last Wednesday. The amount raised was approximately £130. The party was well supported. Sponsors were the Milk Marketing Board, Northern Dairies, Rowntrees, Duncairn Wines and Torney Bros.

BUSES — Bus services will be seriously affected next week unless the ten-day old strike by Ulsterbus maintenance staff is called off.

Downpatrick is the maintenance centre for buses also based in Ballynahinch, Newcastle and Kilkeel. Twelve members are out on strike and three apprentices are not working.

So far full services are being maintained by local depots, but none of the 62 buses is getting servicing attention. The strike began after maintenance men rejected a pay offer. They want parity with Citybus engineers, who, they claim, are receiving between £8 and £9 a week more, although both companies are under the same management.

LOLLIPOP MEN — The conditions and wages of ‘lollipop men’ were discussed at the quarterly meeting of Down Road Safety Committee on Tuesday. 

It was felt that younger, more alert men, paid a realistic wage, should be employed in this capacity with more supervision. They should also be provided with some sort of shelter against inclement weather.

The committee went on to praise the men presently employed as ‘lollipop men’ and added that they were doing a fine job and receiving a very low salary. The South Eastern Education and Library Board were to be notified of these views.