From the pages of the Down Recorder, April 23, 1974

From the pages of the Down Recorder, April 23, 1974

STRANGFORD — For how much longer can the Strangford ferry stand the pressure of holiday traffic? That was the question crew members and the local public were making on Easter Monday when previous traffic records were eclipsed by new throughput figures.

More and more it is a question that worries public representatives who have been unable to obtain any satisfaction from government departments on the likelihood of a second vessel being provided. Over the holiday period the boats engines thrashed to and from Portaferry for 16 hours a day at a flat-out speed as traffic queues piled up on both sides.

Traffic reached a new Easter peak on Monday with 1,680 vehicles and 6,019 passengers being ferried on more than 70 crossings. Altogether over the Easter period the vessel carried 4,762 vehicles and 15,204 passengers. At the height of Monday’s pressure the boat was taking only eight minutes to pick up a full load and deposit them on the other side.

Apart from holiday peaks, summer traffic using the ferry is continually setting new records, but problems arise in the autumn when the vessel is taken out of service for up to three weeks for annual service. The only alternative for passengers is by open motor boat and vehicles having to make the round trip by road.

SHRIGLEY — Claims for redundancy money by people who lost their jobs at Shrigley tannery in January will exceed £30,000. The people affected are getting angry for they haven’t received a penny after 12 weeks, according to a spokesman.

The spokesman told the Recorder yesterday that of the 86 paid off, 67 have submitted claims for redundancy payment. “Shortly after the receiver stepped in we soon knew the score and got the redundancy payments people down to the factory,” he said. “They told us that we should have our money in about a month’s time, but since then nothing has happened.

“I got in touch with the local manager in Downpatrick and he contacted the people in Belfast. They wrote to say it was in the hands of a special payments branch. But that wasn’t very satisfactory so I wrote to Mr. Paddy Devlin. He wrote to say it was the Department of Manpower that was concerned and we have heard nothing since.”

A Manpower official made it clear that settlement of any claim as complex as that resulting from the tannery cutback just could not be settled in four weeks. “The people involved possibly do not realise just how much paperwork is involved in the several stages of checking and departmental clearing of these claims with the firm,” he said.

DOWNPATRICK — A Downshire Hospital patient managed to get himself appointed to a job in the hospital laundry before it was discovered that he was a patient. When the mistake was discovered he was informed that he was ineligible for the job, which was given to another of the applicants.

It appears that the vacancy was advertised publicly and the patient procured an application form and filled it in, giving his home address, which is not in the Downpatrick area. At an interview he was asked if getting to work would present any problems, but he assured members of the panel that this would not arise.

According to district administrative officer, Mr. George Flinn, the patient never at any time declared that he was a patient. Nor had he told his charge nurse that he had made the application, or that he was going to attend for interview.

“With 900 patients in the hospital it is impossible for the administrators to know all or even a fraction of them,” Mr. Flinn said. “Apart from that, the whole system is aimed at giving patients freedom and at encouraging their rehabilitation.

“The man in question interviewed very satisfactorily, but being a patient he could not be given the job. If he had been discharged the circumstances would have been quite different and he would have remained in the post.”

NEWCASTLE — Newcastle was a hive of activity over the Easter period when holidaymakers thronged in their thousands to the picturesque seaside town. on Tuesday alone an estimated 30,000 swarmed the streets with the finish of the Benson & Hedges Circuit of Ireland Rally in the morning obviously a major attraction.

Indeed, Newcastle proved to be a huge success as the setting for the finish of the rally, with the biggest every crowd attending a final stage of the renowned circuit. The final stage from Maggie’s Leap through Newcastle Forest to Donard Park proved popular with competitors and afforded spectators unique and ideal vantage points for the race climax.

Right through the holiday period there was a steady stream of traffic to Newcastle. At the bottleneck in Ballynahinch it was reported to be bumper to bumper and most commuters were restricted to 20mph. Newcastle police described the traffic as comparable to the July holidays, but although there was heavy congestion, they succeeded in keeping cars moving.

ARDGLASS — The fishing industry has taken a battering from winter storms, but for one fish processing company, at least, the future looks Bright.

Ardglass Export Company, oddly enough based at Ballyhornan, have taken their fair share of trouble from the weather, but they are riding the waves so well that they are on the look-out for more labour.

The company commenced operations in November 1972 with a workforce of 26. This has already been virtually doubled and they hope to employ 80 before long. The proprietor is Mr. Alex Magee, well known in Ardglass fishing circles and indeed in many parts of the country.

The company handles all classes of shellfish and sea fish and are well noted for their scampi processing. Their continental marketing has become a feature of the industry in Ardglass. At present the company’s most noted markets are Queen scallops to America, herring fillets to Germany, scampi to Britain and a wide range of shellfish and sea fish to many parts of the continent.

KILLYLEAGH — Killyleagh is generally drab and dirty with untidy housing areas and litter all around - even the fencing in estates could do with painting!

That’s how the judges of the Best Kept Small Towns’ competition, organised by the Central Gardens Association, saw Killyleagh in 1973. This means, for the second year in succession, Killyleagh has come bottom of the list of entrants in County Down.

In contrast, Newcastle finished highest of the local towns, reaching third place behind Donaghadee and Kilkeel. Downpatrick came a dismal seventh and Ballynahinch a poor ninth out of ten.

DOWNPATRICK — Sixty five year-old John Denvir finally met his match in St. Patrick’s Church, Downpatrick. His ‘better half’ is now 75 year-old former Miss Dorothy Hughes.

The couple — both residents of St. John’s Home, Downpatrick, were married with the traditional Easter frills and plan to move out on their own again in a flat at Kennedy Square. John, formerly of Saul Street, Downpatrick, and Dorothy, a native of Kilcoo, are the first residents to be married out of St. John’s Home.

SOCCER — Favourites Annalong Rangers completed the Newcastle League league and cup double at Donard Park on Monday when they came from behind to snatch a 5-3 victory over Saintfield AYC in the Harry Clarke Memorial Cup final. An estimated record crowd watched in brilliant sunshine as the Mourne lads lifted the trophy — which Downpatrick United donated to the league five years ago — for the fourth consecutive season.

JOBS — The number of unemployed men in the Downpatrick district is down by half in the last two years, according to figures published in March. The district takes in Killyleagh, Killinchy, Crossgar, Strangford, Ardglass, Killough and Ballykinlar.

In March there were 195 unemployed men (4.3 per cent of the insured population) and 121 women (4.8 per cent), giving an overall average of 4.5 per cent. This compared favourably with the average of 5.6 per cent for the province (6.8 per cent for men and 3.6 per cent for women). Newcastle district figures for men are the same as the provincial figure and for women. exactly double.