NEWCASTLE — Newcastle hoteliers are rubbing their hands at the thought of their busiest summer for the past five years and it is not just pure speculation if the Easter figures are a yardstick to go by.
The influx of visitors was the largest by far for a number of years and hotel bookings rocketed. The Slieve Donard manager, Mr. John Toner, told the Recorder he was very pleased with the Easter weekend.
“We were definitely a lot busier than last Easter,” he said. “People seem more relaxed due to the ceasefire and it is noticeable how they are doing things on the spur of the moment.
Mrs. B. Creighton, of the Arkeen Hotel, was another pleased hotelier. “We are very pleased with Easter this year. All things considered our bookings were well up.”
And at the Enniskeen Hotel, a bedroom could not be bought for love or money. Mrs. E. Porter, proprietor, said they had their busiest Easter for a long time and she even reported a number of guests from England had booked for a few days.
She attributed the splendid holiday period to the fine weather and, of course, the ceasefire.
CROSSGAR — Thirty competitors — half the field — in the Tour of the North international cycle race were involved in a pile-up on the Belfast Road near Saintfield on Saturday. Four, including last year’s winner, were taken to Downe Hospital. One received serious facial injuries.
It was the second day of the 250-mile race. Cyclists were negotiating a bend at 35mph when the leaders lost their balance, giving the pack no chance to swerve. The roadway was blocked by a tangle of machines and riders, but most escaped with minor injuries.
The competitors had set off in a massed start at Belfast on Friday. Fifteen teams from the UK and Holland took part. Part of the route included Carryduff, Saintfield, Crossgar, Downpatrick, Clough, Castlewellan, Dromara, Ballynahinch, Ballygowan and Comber.
STRANGFORD — There is a strong possibility of the Strangford ferry coming out of service if the Transport and General Workers strike takes place.
The ferry is an essential part of the public transport system and its crew are understood to prefer a settlement, rather than go all out for a claim which would place them on a wage higher than is available to their English brethren. If they won it would probably bring about a strike in England.
The possibility of a strike closing the ferry down comes at the end of the Easter period when the traffic flow was greater than expected, despite the wintry winds. On Easter Monday alone 1,671 cars were carried across — proof of the need for a second vessel should the existing one go out of service through mechanical failure.
On both sides the queue remained several hundred yards long throughout the day. Such a large quantity of traffic was handled only because of very efficient operation.
KILCLIEF — If investigation shows that too much sewage is being ferried from various parts of Down district for disposal at Kilclief, it may be taken to Belfast for disposal, a Water Service technician told Down Council.
The promise of immediate investigation came after Mr. John Ritchie said local people were highly incensed about the number of lorries dumping sewage daily at Kilclief.
‘These lorries are used to empty septic tanks over a wide area,” he said. The smell is offensive, solids appear on the beach and this done regardless of the fact that Kilclief is an area of outstanding natural beauty.”
BALLYNAHINCH — Ballynahinch shopkeeper Roy Blakely has come up with the perfect answer to beat the province’s security control zones — for when he drives to his Dromore street shop Roy simply picks his motorcycle up under his arm and takes it inside.
Impossible you might think, but Roy’s back will hardly be strained as his Honda ‘monkey bike’ stands only two feet off the ground and has a wheel span of five inches.
Roy, who makes the daily journey through the centre of the town from his home on the Crossgar Road, has only had the bike for several weeks. He originally had thought of putting it up for sale in his recently opened motor cycle shop, but the fact that there are only a few in Northern Ireland has made him have second thoughts.
It’s a 50cc machine and has a top speed of 40mph. It has no suspension, but can be used legally on the roads by adults. Roy freely admits that it took him several days to get used to handling the bike.
WHITEROCK — A dramatic car chase ended when a stolen car crashed into a concrete slab at Elbow Bend, Whiterock, near Killinchy on Tuesday morning.
The chase began on the Killyleagh-Comber Road when two eagle-eyed policemen spotted a Ford Mexico, which had been stolen earlier near Ballynahinch. They attempted to block the road with their patrol car, but the Mexico clipped it on its way past and made off in the direction of Whiterock. The police gave chase and caught up after the Mexico had crashed. A juvenile was apprehended.
SPA — Members and friends of Spa sports and social club enjoyed a festive night when Stanley Johnston’s Dance Band played at their Easter function. Over 150 were present and the entertainment was enhanced by spot dances and novelty items.
SEAFORDE — Mr. Bobby Dixon, from Seaforde, has become head of one of the most important cattle associations in Northern Ireland. At Balmoral last week he was elected president of the Simmental Cattle Breeders Association.
Mr. Dixon said that the year ahead would be a string one and challenging one for cattle breeders in competition and marketing, and felt that they would continue to bring the Simmental forward in a most impressive way.
LISTOODER — Listooder Orange Hall was packed to capacity for the Easter Monday dance when Bailiesmills Dance Band supplied excellent music for the occasion. A ballot was held for a box of biscuits which was handed back and auctioned for £1 in aid of lodge funds. The ladies’ committee provided an excellent supper.
DROMARA — Pupils of Kinallen Primary School, Dromara, in the past year collected £201 for the Cripples Institute. It was the highest amount raised by any school in the province.
CASTLEWELLAN — Castlewellan Scout Council held their annual meeting at the home of Mrs. Mary Ross, cub scout leader, on Tuesday when the year’s work was reviewed. The greatest immediate problem confronting the group at the moment is a meeting place. Perhaps some sympathetic and public spirited person could help.
Mr. W. J. Neill, district commissioner, and Mr. A. P. Cairns, chairman of the Newcastle district scout council, were present and wished the group well.
KILLYLEAGH — The death has taken place of Mr. H. Temple Orr, a former manager of Ulster Bank branches in Killyleagh and Downpatrick. He was widely admired for his consuming interest in drama, pantomime and musical works.
In Killyleagh during the lean war years his refined ability was reflected in stage productions which gave widespread pleasure. Some of his work won acclaim and awards far beyond the locality.
SAINTFIELD — Two retiring officials of Saintfield Show Society were presented with tangible tokens of the high esteem in which they were held at the society’s dinner dance held recently in the Millbrook Lodge Hotel. They were Mrs. McKelvey, head of the home industries section, and Mrs. R. F. Monie, secretary of the home industries section.
CARRYDUFF — Over 200 people attended an open air service in connection with Carryduff Presbyterian Church at 6.30am at Knockbracken golf driving range.