From the pages of the Down Recorder, August 19, 1975

From the pages of the Down Recorder, August 19, 1975

19 August 2015

BALLYNAHINCH — A Ballynahinch death trap — the Lisburn approach to the town centre — is to be the subject of a high-powered discussion by RUC Traffic Branch chiefs in the near future.

Already one small boy has been killed and many more youngsters severely injured in what was described as the most dangerous stretch of highway in Down District.

The stretch of road is just outside control restrictions and is seen by many as a haven fro motorists unable, or unwilling, to use the main car park in Windmill Street.

During school term anxious mothers from the nearby Langley Road estate have to meet their school children who are faced daily with the hazard of walking across Lisburn Road without the guidance of a school patrolman.

Those anxious mothers will be glad to know that fellow residents and councillor, Winston Gaskin, brought up the matter at Down Council’s meeting on Monday night and now the public representatives have invited the head of the RUC Traffic Branch to thrash out the problem.

Mr Gaskin, who has been fighting for something to be done since before his days as a councillor, received immediate and total support when he told members that the matter should be urgently brought to the attention of the police, that signs should be erected and that car parking should be banned on both sides.

The council chairman, Mr Edward McVeigh, a long-serving Ballynahinch councillor, offered support to his colleague’s plea. Lisburn Road, he said, was a “real bottleneck and real hazard,” and he hoped the council would take up the fight.

CASTLEWELLAN — The future of the Market House in Castlewellan still hangs in the balance. This week Down Council had an appeal for grant aid turned down by the Department of Education and they will now have joint talks with the South Eastern Education Board.

The Education Board are already exploring the premises as a site for a new library and the council are hoping that renovations can be extended to make use of the building as a community hall.

CROSSGAR — Crossgar shop owner Mr William Niblock suddenly found himself £750 richer this week. After almost four years of trying to pinpoint the ball in the Belfast Telegraph’s ‘Find the Ball’ competition, he has finally turned up trumps.

However, Mr Niblock is not all that sure he can truly lay claim to the prize, because his son, Geoffrey, helped him in the latest attempt. But Mr Niblock is convinced he marked more Xs. He filled in the coupon and bought postal order.

Said Mr Niblock: “I’ll be retiring inside year or two and the money will come in handy. When I heard I won I was flabbergasted and I don’t think Geoffrey is quibbling.”

DOWNPATRICK — Fifteen year-old schoolboy Trevor Steele has a head full of ideas — but unlike many of us he also has hands able to execute his plans.

His skill was rewarded this week when Trevor, a pupil at Down High School, learned that he had won the Keeble Memorial Award for the highest mark in O Level woodwork examinations in Northern Ireland.

Part of Trevor’s bid to lift the trophy was to make a reproduction of a Chippendale-style chair. he saw a scale drawing on the back of a book an designed a replica in mahogany. It was a painstaking task, taking Trevor well over 150 hours to complete.

CROSSGAR — The Crossgar and District Community Committee entertained the senior citizens to a lovely bus run to the Folk Museum at Cultra on Saturday afternoon. On return to the War Memorial Hall a sumptuous tea was served followed by a musical programme of songs, community singing and a display of Irish dancing, the accompanist being Mrs Stella King.

During the evening Mrs CB williams presented a plaque to Mr John Hanvey, who is responsible for keeping the town tidy and amid much applause Mr Hanvey suitably replied.

Prior to the singing of ‘Auld Lang Syne,’ Mr WJ Cochrane, chairman, expressed a comprehensive vote of thanks to all who had been responsible for the success of the evening, especially Mrs P Bell, Mr D Cahill and Miss Anne McCarthy. Mrs ME Robinson thanked the community committee on behalf of the senior committee.

KILLYLEAGH — Down Council are to provide a slipway and public toilets as tourist amenities at Killyleagh harbour. A council committee recently inspected the harbour and felt a slip was necessary because of the large number of pleasure boats using the harbour.

Meanwhile, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board have already agreed to the need for toilets and inquiries are to be made to find a site.

BALLYHOSSETT — Once again Mr H Caven’s farm at Ballyhossett was the setting for this year’s Downpatrick Young Farmers horse rally. The fine weather encouraged the members and friends to participate in the competitions, which were judged by Mr T Foy.

The days’s activities concluded with a speed jumping competition in which E Harney was first, C McCoubrey was second and A Harney was third. In the potato race a very capable team captained by V MacNabb was first with P Turley’s second and C McCoubrey’s third.

BALLYNAGROSS — The first in what is confidently expected to become a series of annual open sports days took place on Sunday at Ballynagross football ground when the local club were promoters of a well-balanced sports programme which included a host of sideshows.

Headed by Saul Accordian Band, the fancy dress parade attracted an amazing number of entries, most of which were highly commendable. The adjudicating panel of Mr and Mrs W Brennan and Mrs J Carville had a difficult task before reaching their decisions.

SAINTFIELD — A splendid turnout of 995 head was on offer at the weekly cattle sale held by Saintfield Livestock Mart Ltd. These numbers were made up of 520 bullocks, 178 fat cows, 139 ped calves, 116 maiden heifers, 27 sucklers and 15 dairy cows.

At the weekly pig sale, 53 pens of stores met a slightly easier trade for the smaller pigs, although a good trade was experienced for the stronger ones.

PORTAFERRY — Portaferry lost one of its famous residents when Mr J Sholto Cooke, of The Strand, died. He was aged 69. Mr Cooke, a member of a Londonderry family, was educated at Harrow and Magdalen College, Oxford.

In the years 1962 to his retirement in 1971, he was Clerk of the Parliaments of Northern Ireland. His wife, who survives him, is a daughter of the late Sir Roland Nugent, of Portaferry, a former speaker of the Northern Ireland Senate.

DROMARA — The 50,000 crowd at the Ulster Grand Prix at Dundrod on Saturday witnessed one of the best ever meetings with records falling from start to finish.

Dromara’s Ray McCullough stole most of the limelight when he broke Agostini’s six year-old lap record and went on to win the 350cc event with ease.  In fact, Ray not only broke it once, he went on to break it twice more to set an absolute track record of 108.57 mph. Second place went to Tom Herron, formerly of Newcastle.

CRICKET — Downpatrick have done it again. Their 33-run victory over Bangor, together with Waringstown’s shock two-wicket defeat at Lurgan, has given them the Senior League title for the second successive season.

With one game to play, against bottom of the table North Down, Downpatrick have opened up a massive 14-point lead over Bangor and Lisburn, who each have two games to play. Waringstown, 18 points behind, have four games still to play.

Once again, Downpatrick can thank opener Noel Ferguson. The 48 year-old, who has hit a succession of high scores recently, knocked up 69 in a century opening stand with Chris Harte.