From the pages of the Down Recorder, August 28, 1973

From the pages of the Down Recorder, August 28, 1973

28 August 2013

CASTLEWELLAN — THE recent upsurge of interest in karting has prompted Castlewellan man Patsy king to introduce a novel idea for local enthusiasts. He has converted an old reservoir site at Upper Clarkhill, Castlewellan, into a karting circuit where anyone can go along for a few practice laps or just for the ride.

The circuit will be officially opened tomorrow by Castlewellan’s own karting ace, Marty Greene. Ulster champion Greene has agreed to give coaching courses at the track at various intervals during the year.

The Mount Pleasant Go Kart Co., as it is officially known, is the first of its kind in the country and should prove a popular attraction for the area. The company will be run by the father and son combination of James and Patsy King and it isn’t the family’s first venture in the Castlewellan area.

About four years ago brothers Patsy, Seamus and Alphonsus formed the Mount Pleasant Pony Trekking Centre, which has been a big success, attracting visitors from all parts of the country.

BALLYNAHINCH — Members of Ballynahinch district Royal Black Preceptory are tonight putting the final touches to the setting for tomorrow’s demonstration in the town. The event is expected to attract a crowd of over 10,000 with over 70 bands and preceptories taking part.

The march begins on the Crossgar Road at 12.30pm and goes through Main Street, Church Street, Church Road and Downpatrick Road to the field at Magheradroll. The platform party will be led by County Grand Master Sir Kt. George Dumigan and the special address will be given by Sir Kt. Rev. Robert Bradford.

This week police have issued the following advice about traffic arrangements in the town. No traffic will be permitted to enter Ballynahinch between the hours of 11am to 6pm approximately. Local traffic diversions around the town will be signposted. Car parks will be available on approach roads for those attending the demonstration.

DOWNPATRICK — About 200 senior citizens were greeted to an outing on Sunday in one of the biggest voluntary enterprises ever seen in Downpatrick. A fleet of 40 cars, five mini-buses and a 38-seater bus loaned by a Belfast branch of the Lions Club ferried the old folk up through the mountains via Spelga Dam to Warrenpoint for the afternoon.

Surprisingly enough, the sun even played a small part in making the day a success by emerging for half an hour at Warrenpoint, long enough for the old folk to take a walk round the local market. Said one of the organisers, Mr. Terry Torney: “I think they all enjoyed their walk around the market. We had quite a job gathering them up when it was time to return.”

After the run home to Downpatrick the people were given turkey salad with all the usual trimmings in a mammoth catering session in the dining at Down High School, followed by a short entertainment programme in the assembly hall.

The outing was made possible by Lecale Community Service Association, which could be described as an occasional coalition of four well-known organisations: St. Vincent de Paul, De La Salle Union, Lions Club and Round Table.

The combined resources of the four meant that the annual old folk outing organised by the De La Salle Union could be almost quadrupled in size.

BALLYKINLAR — Two soldiers who had escaped from military custody at Ballykinlar were desperate to get away and tried to take a car in Clough, Newcastle Court heard on Friday. Unfortunately for them, a police arrived on the scene as the pair were trying to start the vehicle by crossing some of the wiring under the bonnet.

As a result, David Robinson, of the King’s Own Borderers, and Jeffrey Booth, of Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire, were each fined a total of £40 and banned from driving for a year.

DUNDRUM — A fashion show held in Dundrum on Friday night has raised £40 for the Northern Ireland Council for Orthopaedic Development. The show, sponsored by Mr. William Keown, Cottage Industries, Dundrum, was held in the Donard Parochial Hall.

At the outset of the show Mr. Keown welcomed the compere, Mrs. D. S. Hanna, and Mrs. Cairns, wife of the chairman of Newcastle Urban Council, who opened the show.

Models for the evening were Misses H. Gardiner, M. McShane, H. Jones, P. Hanna, A. Flynn, D. Croskery and G. McCormick; Mrs. H. Davidson and Mrs. H. Cooper; and masters Owen Flynn and William McCormick.

CROSSGAR — Bell’s Motor Works — the firm which brought Renault to Co. Down — have this week opened a new showroom and accessory centre at their Crossgar garage. The 2,000 sq. ft. extension is the culmination of a major success story which began ten years ago with a small petrol service bay on the Downpatrick Road.

Owner Mr. Kevin Bell’s decision in 1969 to go into the Common Market long before the rest of the UK by selling French cars has been amply justified during the past four years. For, as the only Renault agent in this part of Co. Down, he has found that the problem is not selling the cars – it’s keeping up with demand.

“This new showroom we have built will give us the extra space we think we will need to deal with the new range of Renaults next year,” he said. “But the demand seems to be increasing all the time. The smaller models, particularly, sell extremely well here.”

For many years the biggest selling foreign car in the UK was Volkswagen.

KILLYLEAGH — Killyleagh Young Farmers’ Club held their annual tractor driving competition recently and the results were as follows: 1st James Lindsay, 2nd (tie) David Lindsay and Edgar Bassett, 3rd Frank Gibson. A vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. David Lindsay to Mr. W. R. Neill, of Killinchy YFC, who acted as judge, and also to Mr. D. McKelvey for the loan of his field.

The summer outing took place last Tuesday evening when members travelled to Mount Pleasant Pony Trekking Centre at Castlewellan. After everyone had got seated on a suitable mount the members then set off on a trek through Castlewellan Park which will be remembered because of the lovely scenery.

NEWCASTLE — The 1973 County Down scouters’ conference will take place at the Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle, over the weekend September 8-9. This year the arrangements are in the hands of Newtownards district, and the programme promises to be of outstanding interest.

SOCCER — The new soccer season got underway last Saturday, but not for Mickey Donovan the prospect of a long and happy season. The Kilmore Rec inside forward sustained a double fracture of the left leg in the second half of his team’s home match with Carrera’s, and will be definitely out of action for the rest of the season.

The incident happened in the 52nd minute when Mickey collided with the visiting goalkeeper as they raced for a loose ball. Play was abandoned for 30 minutes while an ambulance unit raced from Downe Hospital. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.

CINEMA — The greatest entertainment of all time, Cecil B. DeMille’s production of The Ten Commandments, will be on the Grand Cinema screen in Downpatrick for six nights commencing Monday next at 7 o’clock. It is the story of Moses from the time his mother set him afloat in a basket on the Nile, through his years as a young general in the Pharaoh’s army, to his betrayal and exile, and finally his deliverance of the Israelites and his receiving God’s commandments.