From the pages of the Down Recorder, April 24, 1973

From the pages of the Down Recorder, April 24, 1973

24 April 2013

ARDGLASS — A big future is predicted for the fishing industry in Ardglass by the Minister of State, but his blunt message to the unemployed is ‘come out and work.’

Mr. Mills spent five and a half hours in and around Ardglass on Thursday, going in and out of processing plants and fishing boats and talking to the people who operate them. He felt almost at home as 20 boats came from all points east to disgorge their already boxed and bulky catches on the cold quayside for auction.

As the prices of monkfish, cold lythe and prawns permeated the air, Mr. Mills said: “First thing, we are going to build a new covered fish market, which is most important.

“It seems clear to me that fishermen prefer to come here than to Kilkeel or Portavogie because of the price advantage. I know that they can gain between £50 and £70 more in one trawl by coming into Ardglass and I look upon marketing as the first priority.

The plants visited by Mr. Mills were the Ardglass Export Company at Ballyhornan, Seaborne Ltd., Angus Cochrane and Messrs Comgall and Oliver Milligan.

BALLYNAHINCH — Over 270 pupils of St. Colman’s Secondary School in Ballynahinch were given a treat by a visit to the school of Ulster’s ‘Golden Girl’, Mary Peters. Mary toured playing fields, giving coaching tips to the boys and the girls as they demonstrated their prowess at the long jump, high jump, shot and hurdling events.

Inside she spoke to a packed assembly hall about her preparations and triumph at the Munich Olympics and answered many questions from the pupils. Mr. Harry Bent, principal, thanked her for her visit and presented her with a cheque on behalf of the pupils as a contribution to the Mary Peters Track Fund. The pupils had organised raffles within the school to collect money for her fund.

Mary thanked the pupils for their wonderful gesture and hoped that she would soon raise the funds needed to build an athletics track which could be for the use of schools in Northern Ireland.

BALLEE — Three men will appear at Belfast Magistrates Court today in connection with an armed robbery at Ballee Post Office. They are jointly charged with possession of a .45 revolver and three rounds of ammunition in suspicious circumstances and with the robbery of the post office.

The men were caught less than an hour after the robbery at a road block on the Killyleagh Road and were taken to Downpatrick police station. Local police yesterday expressed thanks to the public for their help.

Said a spokesman: “We are absolutely delighted with the response. It came in — and came in fast — from unexpected sources. We got really good information and we must give credit where credit is due.”

SAINTFIELD — A Saintfield farmer, Mr. S. Shaw, has been reappointed to the Northern Ireland Agricultural Trust. Mr. Shaw has been a member of the trust since 1967. He is a member of the Milk Marketing Board and the home grown cereals authority.

NEWCASTLE — Newcastle Chamber of Commerce are to continue to press the Northern Ireland Tourist Board for help in promoting a new international standard swimming pool for the town. Members were told at a meeting in the Broadway restaurant on Monday that Castlewellan had received “fairly good treatment” from the Education Authority on their request for a pool.

It was decided to continue negotiations for a pool which could be built on the site of the old Annesley Mansion near Donard Park.

Mr. Sam Hamilton, president, said: “A pool of this calibre would not be in competition with Castlewellan. We would hope for somewhere to hold swimming galas and competitions which would be a definite tourist attraction for the town.”

DOWNPATRICK — A 23 year-old Downpatrick woman had to be rescued by a neighbour when fire broke out in her home at 96 Stream Street on Saturday afternoon. Mrs. Sally Rocks was overcome by fumes and had to be carried from the smoke-filled house by Mr. John English. Mrs. Rocks had been in bed due to an illness when the fire started in a fireside chair.

CASTLEWELLAN — Members of Castlewellan Combat Cancer Group met on Tuesday night to discuss the year’s achievements at their annual meeting. And a very successful year it was, for they handed over a cheque for £580.

Around 30 members attended the meeting in the Oak Grill restaurant. The money was raised by a wide variety of projects throughout the year, including one extremely successful coffee morning which raised £260.

DRUMAROAD — When the ladies of Drumaroad and Clanvaraghan parishes got together to organise a cake fair at Drumaroad Community Centre, their efforts did not stop at cakes. They also added on hoopla and luck-of-the-draw stands and a ‘guess the doll’s name’ competition.

And as well as cake stalls, they had provided clothes, bottles, flowers and toy stalls for the fair on Friday night. The results of the doll’s name competition were announced by Dr. Maguire and the winner was Miss Edel Scally, of Edendarriff, who chose the name ‘Lydia’.

KILLYLEAGH — Mr. Frank Duffy, a former Killyleagh man, died in the City Hospital, Belfast, on Saturday after a short illness. Mr. Duffy, who was 85, was well known in the town where for many years he was the local representative for the Pearl Insurance Company.

During his time in Killyleagh he played a very active role in St. Mary’s Dramatic Club and acted in many of the famous Ulster plays of fifty years ago. He was in Killyleagh cemetery after Requiem Mass at St. Mary’s Church. Canon Larkin officiated.

DOWNPATRICK — In the all-Downpatrick final of the inter-schools’ debating competition organised by the local branch of the NI Association for Mental Health, Down High School narrowly defeated St. Patrick’s High School.

St. Patrick’s proposed the motion, ‘Life without delusions would be unbearable’, and after a keen tussle, the judges decided on a narrow 875 to 856 points win for Down High. Lord Dunleath was chairman of the panel of judges who were Miss Bessie Machonaghie, Mr. J. Magee, Dr. R. Dougal and Dr. K. E. Donnan.

KNOCKBRACKEN — County Down UDR men foiled an armed raid on a reservoir near Belfast on Tuesday night. The soldiers, from the third battalion, challenged five masked and armed raiders at Knockbracken reservoir as they held up a civilian guard.