From the pages of the Down Recorder, August 6 1974

From the pages of the Down Recorder, August 6 1974

6 August 2014

COUNCIL — Down District Council took just 20 minutes on Monday to decide that the vacancy caused by the resignation of Independent councillor Bill Hampton should be filled by a holding a by-election.

The 17 members present seemed reluctant to take the opportunity of nominating someone for the purposes of co-option and, after a little debate, there was an unusual hush in the chamber when the chairman called for nominations.

Councillors must have been more than mildly surprised when Mr. Edward McGrady, chairman, opened the meeting with a request by Mr. Hampton that his views, expressed in a letter, be made known to the council. Mr. Hampton stressed that he was elected to the council as an independent and was not associated with any political party at that time.

He continued: “A number of months ago a party known as the Independent Labour Party was formed in Downpatrick. I was indeed a member of that party and appointed chairman. I now wish to make it quite clear to the entire council that I am not in any way associated with this party at this date, nor have I been for almost two months.

“when this question of filling a vacancy was discussed by the council a few months ago, myself and one or two other councillors were opposed to the system of co-option. I said then, and I confirm again, that any man who sits as a councillor should be elected at the ballot box.”

BALLYNAHINCH — When three year-old Tracey Quinn recently spent a week’s holiday with her parents at Butlin’s Mosney, she took the holiday camp by storm.

Tracey, who lives at Drumaness Road, Ballynahinch, won a silver cup and certificate as first prize in a fancy dress parade and a bronze medal and certificate as third prize in a talent competition.

The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Quinn, she collected the talent prize by singing Jimmy Osmond’s smash hit, Gonna Knock on Your Door. Certainly, even at this early stage of her life, Tracey seems to be knocking on the door of success.

NEWCASTLE — ‘Where the mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea’ will have a very special visitor shortly. For next Friday Miss Ettie French, daughter of Percy French, who immortalised the mountains in song, is a guest of honour at a concert in Newcastle.

It is being organised by the local PACE group both as a community get-together and to raise money for the Mary Peters Track Fund.

“We thought because it was in Newcastle that we would ask her if she would come along,” said James Snoddy, the concert organiser. “So we phoned her and, as it happened, she is coming to Ireland for a holiday anyway. She said she would be delighted to come and we are very pleased.”

The concert is being held in St. Mary’s Parochial Hall, Main Street. Choirs, bands, instrumentalists and soloists will be providing the entertainment.

CROSSGAR — When Bob Fitzsimons, of Killyleagh Street, Crossgar, was presented with the Imperial Long Service Medal by the assistant Head-Postmaster recently, it sparked off a trip down memory lane for him.

Bob started work in the Post Office in Crossgar as a telegram boy when he was 13. Now 47 years later, he has retired from his daily postal round after graduating from his meek beginnings.

“I worked 60 hours a week for three shillings then,” he said. “I remember when there was only one telephone in the town — in the Post Office — and all the businessmen had to do all their business by telegram.”

He was then given a job as a postman, doing his rounds by bicycle. After nearly 30 years and 270,000 miles on the bike, Bob started delivering the mail by van. More comfortable you may think, but Bob regrets it. “It was never the same again. With the van everything was quicker. You started to lose contact with the people on the round.”

That’s nearly the biggest regret in Bob’s life. He is now retired through ill health and wishes that he could be back at work again.

SAINTFIELD — Farmers present at a special protest held in Saintfield Livestock Mart on Wednesday pledged to give the mart’s proprietor, Mr. Sidney Mawhinney, 100 per cent support in his fight to get a cattle grading licence for the Monday sale at the premises. Otherwise that sale will have to close.

Mr. Mawhinney has already been refused a licence by the Department of Agriculture on the grounds that the area was already served by a number of marts. Also, the Ministry haven’t enough staff to run another sale.

Mr. Sam Shaw, a local producer and a former president of the Ulster Farmers’ Union, said he saw no reason why the mart should not be given a licence. “We should rally round Mr. Mawhinney and give him all the support we can.”

A petition was passed round the farmers and Mr. Shaw added: “I have talked to the Department so that the sale can continue and I think we have to insist that we get this grading licence. I would consider it an insult if this petition was not signed by everyone.”

KILCLIEF — Proceeds from a very competitive and highly entertaining gaelic football match at St. Malachy’s Park, Kilclief, will be given to the Society for the Development of Human Potential. The match, which was organised for the second consecutive year by Kilclief GAC, saw Kilclief defeat Saul.

The society has a strong local interest as one of the local children, Kevin Kerr, son of Mr. and Mrs. Owen Kerr, has been developing and exercising under the guidance of the Society since very early childhood. Mr. Kerr presented the trophy, which was donated by Downpatrick sports shop owner, Mr. Liam Magee, to the winning captain, Maurice McCann.

DOWNPATRICK — Close on 1,500 people — probably one of the biggest crowds to attend a soccer match in Downpatrick — packed the renowned little Ibrox Park on Monday night when the Downpatrick and District Bar League reached a heady climax.

That Brian Taggart’s Arkle Bar defeated Acton’s Bar 1-0 in an entertaining league finale was only of secondary importance. What rally counted was a that a ‘fun league’ proved to be a major community success. What made it all possible was the persistence of people like Joe Gordon, Eamonn Smyth, John McNulty and Joe Graham; the dedication of people like Charlie Oakes, Harry Harris and Nicky Mageean; and the help of people like Mrs. Cora Acton, Mr. Frank Acton, the various sponsors and, of course, the publicans in the town. They can rightly feel proud of themselves.

The league shield was presented to the winning captain, Barney Fitzsimons. Dan Connolly was awarded the Murphy Jewellers ‘man of the match’ tankard, just pipping team-mate Joe ‘Snowy’ Graham.

BELL’S HILL — Bell’s Hill were declared champions of the Downpatrick Trades Cricket League when they clinched the title in their last game of the season against Kilmore. Bell’s Hill fully deserve their success and in a area where the cricketing name of Lennon abounds, there are a number of the clan in this youthful side who wouldn’t disgrace a higher grade of the game.

PORTAFERRY — Mr. Patrick Hinds, of Portaferry, has been appointed junior research engineer at Goodyear’s international training centre at Craigavon. Mr. Hinds, who was educated at St. Patrick’s High School, Downpatrick, is a graduate in mechanical engineering from Queen’s University.

DRUMAROAD — Farmers will be hoping for less rain and more sunshine in August — for the news this week that more rain fell in July this year than in any July since 1960 has been something of a bugbear with them. Some farmers had to harvest hay before it was really ready.

Drumaroad farmer Mr. W. J. McComb was one of the lucky ones. “I was able to get my first cut of silage in good weather.”