From the pages of the Down Recorder, August 21, 1979

From the pages of the Down Recorder, August 21, 1979

21 August 2019

MINERSTOWN — A canoeist helped save the lives of three brothers when he sparked off a dramatic air and sea search in Dundrum Bay on Sunday.

The brothers had been out fishing in a nine-foot dinghy when they were dragged out to sea in strong currents, but they were successfully rescued thanks to the alertness of the canoeist, who raised the alarm.

Newcastle lifeboat was launched and a Scout helicopter from Ballykinlar army base was sent to the scene. Within hours, the three Belfast brothers were back in Newcastle harbour where anxious relatives awaited news of their ordeal.

Philip Sharp and his brothers John (21) and Mark (18) had left Minerstown Park Caravan Site wearing only trousers, pullovers and with only two lifejackets between them. They started to fish about 100 yards offshore, but it was when they decided to return home that they hit trouble.

They struggled to make any headway against the strong outgoing tide. “We just drifted further and further away until the shore was just a haze,” Philip said.

They did not realise, as they drifted six miles out to sea, that the alarm had been raised and the Newcastle lifeboat was on its way to their rescue, along with the helicopter..

“The helicopter circled over us until the lifeboat came,” Philip continued. “They took us on board and gave us hot soup and a tot of rum.

“I don’t think we have ever been so glad to see anyone in our lives. Altogether we were six hours at sea.”

The incident earned the boys a sharp rebuke from a Coastguard spokesman, who said they had a lucky escape, and from Earl Roden, secretary of Newcastle lifeboat station, who has prepared a report for the RNLI.

SAINTFIELD — Eighty workers at the McCleery and L’Amie factory in Saintfield are to be laid off in October. News of the pay-offs came in a company statement which laid the blame on cheap imports.

The managing director of the factory, Mr R A McKinnon, said production prices had rocketed while the price they received for their product had remained relatively unchanged.

Last month more than 100 textile workers in Castlewellan were laid off. The province’s three Euro MPs are seeking an immediate freeze on the cheap American polyester imports which are endangering the man-made fibre industry in this province.

NEWCASTLE — A terrorist bomb blitz, which could have knocked out Newcastle’s entire bus fleet, was foiled last Thursday.

Ulsterbus chief Werner Heubeck drove several buses away from danger after an eight-bomb incendiary attack at Newcastle bus station.

Army bomb exports had rushed to the scene when a bus driver, about to begin his morning shift, had spotted an incendiary device.

While they established that eight incendiaries had been planted on seven of the 16 buses parked in the depot, Mr Heubeck drove other buses to safety in another part of the yard.

Mr Heubeck had travelled to Newcastle from Belfast and despite the advice of the security forces that he should not break the cordon around the station, he signed a waiver of responsibility and moved the buses.

Newcastle police said that five of the devices had partially exploded, but caused little damage. Newcastle’s bus fleet operated from the street until the all clear had been given.

Back at his Belfast desk, Mr Heubeck said: “Any risk I took was necessary. Everyone who lives here has to take risks. My drivers do, so I can’t opt out.”

SHRIGLEY — A new plastics factory in Shrigley opened this week and already has good off to a good start with several orders.

The company, which will be known as Northern Ireland Plastics, has taken on ten workers and they aim to step up the number employed to 30 within the next two years.

The managing director of the new firm, Mr Lance Walker, said that although the orders were not big, the company was nevertheless pleased and encouraged.

The factory, which is sited at premises vacated by the tannery in Shrigley, will carry out processing and provide materials for the plastic packaging industry, such as fish boxes, meat packaging and seed trays.

The opening was welcomed by local councillor Sam Osborne, who said the factory space had been lying idle for too long and he was pleased to see employment coming to the area.

DOWNPATRICK — Plans are now at an advanced stage to provide St Patrick’s Parish in Downpatrick with a multi-purpose community hall and a major new youth club complex within the next two years.

Most of the cost of the two facilities, believed to run into many hundreds of thousands of pounds, will be borne by the parish itself, which has planned a staggering spending budget.

The sites for both schemes are within several hundred yards of St Patrick’s Church, which was renovated last year at a cost of £50,000, and have been made possible by the response of local parishioners to recent fund-raising events.

The go-ahead was given this week for demolition work to begin on the burnt-out remains of the former ‘Canon’s Hall’ in John Street, which is to be used as the site for the new youth club.

ARDGLASS — Work will start early next year on a new sewerage scheme for Ardglass, which will provide for the needs of the town and proposed new housing in the area.

The scheme will begin in January and consist of the construction of new gravity sewers and pumping stations. These will intercept the existing outfall sewers and pump the contents to a new sewage works at Ardtole for treatment and discharge into the sea.

The news has been welcomed by local councillor Dermot Curran, who said he was delighted that the work was to begin.

KILLYLEAGH — Colin Martin, of Riverside, Frederick Street, Killyleagh, must feel he’s the luckiest two year-old around — for he has just won a Down Recorder competition for a framed photo of motorbike rider Tom Herron.

Colin’s postcard, which was sent in by his father, Derek, was the first correct entry out of the bag, and he duly received the photo, which has been autographed by the world’s top riders, including Kenny Roberts and Barry Sheene.

SAUL — The Saul Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians made the trip of Carnlough last week for the annual AOH demonstration.

After mass in the parish church the division, led by St Patrick’s Accordion Band, parade through the area and Downpatrick en route for the Co Antrim venue.

A recent cake and produce sale organised by the energetic committee raised £160, which will go towards the purchase of new uniforms. The committee extend their thanks to all who helped in any way to make the function a success.

NEWTOWNARDS — Londonderry Park, Newtownards, is the venue on Saturday for the Co Down Grand Black Chapter’s demonstration when 118 preceptories from 13 districts will be in attendance.

Including members of the bands, it is estimated that more than 10,000 will be on parade in the demonstration, making it the biggest in the province, and a further 10,000 spectators are expected to line the streets.

SOCCER — Soccer stars of yesteryear were in abundance at the Downshire Hospital on Friday evening, but unfortunately few spectators were there to see them.

The game was organised by Charlie Oakes, who encouraged a team of All-Stars to meet his own select side in a special challenge match, which was sponsored by Murphy Jewellers, Downpatrick. The match ball was provided by Magee Sports.