From the pages of the Down Recorder, August 2, 1977

From the pages of the Down Recorder, August 2, 1977

2 August 2017

BALLYNAHINCH — A big upheaval in the family doctor service is to come into operation in Ballynahinch in two months’ time. With two of the town’s six doctors having stopped practising from last weekend, the remaining four are to amalgamate and operate from the Health Clinic.

The situation has been brought about by the retirement of Dr F J O’Kane, from Church Street, who has served the town for 36 years. The retirement coincided with the announcement of his son, Brendan, that he would cease practising in the area as he was to leave for Australia in four months.

More than 3,000 patients were on the register of Dr O’Kane and these have been seeking admission on to other doctors’ books.

The four remaining general practitioners in the town are Dr R Scott and Dr P McGrath, who operate from the Health Clinic in Main Street, and Dr H Arthur and Dr J Bassett, who operate from a surgery in Dromore Street. These four intend amalgamating at the start of October and to operate from the Health Clinic.

Fears that the four practitioners would not be able to cope with the big Ballynahinch register have been dismissed by Dr Scott. “There is no guarantee that all patients from Dr O’Kane will automatically switch to any one of the four remaining Ballynahinch practitioners,” he said.

Dr O’Kane’s retirement comes after a long history of serving in the town. A Belfast man, he came to Ballynahinch just after he qualified. His connections with the town will not be severed as he intends to continue to reside there.

DOWNPATRICK — Downpatrick’s new £150,000 library opened its doors to the public for the first time on Monday and already it has proved to be an overwhelming success with the town’s readers.

In the first two days alone 2,255 books went on loan as 327 new members came forward to join those who had belonged to the old library.

A delighted Mrs Reid, one of the librarians, said the initial response had been terrific. “We have been very, very busy since the doors opened,” she said.

The new library is an ultra-modern building laid out on one floor with areas for children and adults, with a record lending department.

SHRIGLEY — An in-depth discussion will be held later this month to decide the future of the Martin Monument in Shrigley. The Housing Executive has announced its intention to restore the monument, but so far no decision has been taken on what to do with the area around it.

A meeting with all those concerned in the matter is to take place later this month to hammer out a final course of action. At present opinion is divided as to whether or not the one and a half acres of land around the monument should be used for housing development.

In a letter to South Down MP Mr Enoch Powell, who has been battling for some time now for action to be taken, an Executive official said they were anxious the work starts soon.

He said this was necessary for stop further deterioration of the monument and to “enhance a corner of the village that seems to have become neglected in recent years.”

DUNDRUM — Mr Dan McNeill was presented with a silver tray in the Bay Inn, Dundrum, as a token of respect and recognition of 21 years of dedicated service as chairman of the Dundrum Regatta and Sports committee.

In his speech at the annual regatta dance, the new chairman, Mr Hugh Graham, outlined the growth and stature of Dundrum Regatta and Sports under the chairmanship of Mr McNeill since 1957.

Mr McNeill accepted a bouquet of flowers for his wife which were offered as consolation for the many hours he was away from home because of involvement in committee work.

After the presentation Mr McNeill promised he would continue to remain a member in helping with the organisation of the annual regatta.

SEAFORDE — With the opening of the first two restored almshouses in Seaforde, the government has promised full support for other voluntary housing projects.

At the official ceremony to open the Seaforde houses on Friday, Minister of the Environment Mr Ray Carter said that voluntary housing bodies had a vital job to do.

Mr Carter said the Seaforde project was a “fine rescue operation giving life to a group of old and architecturally interesting buildings.”

KILLOUGH —  A Killough teenager will be one of four people heading off to America in eleven days’ time to stay for a year in the States as part of an educational scheme.

Robert Stronge, of 6 Point Road, Killough, flies out with three Belfast teenagers, having been chosen by the American Field Service.

Robert, son of Mrs Anna Stronge and the late Mr J D Stronge, will live with the Sosierte family in East Aurora, near Buffalo, in New York State, and will attend the local high school.

American Field Service is a world-wide organisation which offers an educational opportunity through the medium of learning and living experiences in another country.

Robert applied for the scholarship as a result of an article in a daily newspaper and after a series of interviews he was selected along with the three Belfast teenagers.

CARRYDUFF — High speed drivers in the Carryduff area had better beware because police are on the look-out for speed limit breakers.

Having received many complaints of speeding cars within the village’s speed limit, police are now determined to use every means possible to catch the continual culprits

Apart from the usual static radar equipment, police now have a number of patrol cars carrying the latest Vascar equipment operating frequently in and around Carryduff.

A Traffic Branch superintendent told the Recorder that his department were very much aware of the speeding problem in the Carryduff area and were now in a position to clamp down heavily.

CONEY ISLAND — A prominent health visitor retired on Thursday after spending 27 years in the Health Service. Mrs Patricia Aspinall, from Coney Island, near Ardglass, was given a send off by her nursing colleagues.

Mrs Aspinall was employed by Down County Health Committee from August 1950 and after seven years she acted as group adviser on nutrition and special diets. Her contribution in this field was invaluable and diabetic patients in particular received much support.

Since 1973, when she became an employee of the Eastern Health and Social Services, Mrs Aspinall has been an enthusiastic health visitor, carrying quite a heavy case load and also motivating younger staff members.

KILLYLEAGH — Killyleagh Youth Football and Recreation Club were rewarded with a large attendance at the Showgrounds for their first grand fete.

Wioth over two dozen stalls and lots of amusements sited over the field, people of all ages were catered for. Under ideal weather conditions the refreshments and afternoon teas proved very popular throughout the day.

The field events rounded off with two very entertaining football matches. Killyleagh ladies were narrowly beaten 3-2 by a very useful Comber and district side, while in the Old Crocks encounter a youthful Downpatrick side beat their Killyleagh counterparts 4-2.

ARDGLASS — Ardglass boxer Ray Ross flies out to Nigeria on Monday with a special mission in mind. Ray. the current number one contender for the Irish lightweight title, is set to take on the Nigerian lightweight champion, Hogan Jimoh.

Ray’s manager, Gerry Hassett, told the Recorder there was every likelihood that the Ardglass professional could come out on top. He said Ray was “in great shape, fighting fit and raring to go”.