From the pages of the Down Recorder, December 14, 1976

From the pages of the Down Recorder, December 14, 1976

14 December 2016

TURKEYS — Some local turkey producers have complained that their sales are not as good as they have been in previous years. They feel that the demand for heavier, farm fresh birds is not as evident this year.

One Caryduff producer, who has 800 birds, said he had received orders for only 200. “My worst setback came a few days ago when an order for 300, placed on the basis of a gentleman’s agreement last summer, fell through,” he said.

“The people concerned just told me they had got their birds elsewhere and it’s possible that they went for frozen birds. With the cost of feeding stuff and labour there is little profit on a bird.”

Mrs Elizabeth Tate, of Ballynahinch, reported a similar situation. “Things are really slow with me,” she said. “I had only about 70 birds this year and I’ve only had 11 orders so far. I think it is because a lot of frozen birds are around this year.”

Stewarts supermarkets have sold over 20,000 oven-ready turkeys and hope to sell another 10,000 birds before Christmas.

DOWNPATRICK — Fears that Downpatrick would not have a Christmas tree for the second year on the trot were ended this week.

Unlike previous occasions the tree didn’t have to be erected — for it has been growing in the grounds of the Downe Hospital for the past number of years.

The use of the tree was kindly granted by the hospital’s management and decorations were provided by members of the local Round Table and Lions Club.

However, the putting of the decorations and lights posed a problem until the local fire brigade were approached. With the help of their 50-foot ladder the job was soon completed.

KILLYLEAGH — The Housing Executive has put the finishing touches to an exciting redevelopment scheme for Killyleagh that will transform the centre of the town by 1980 and provide modern housing for some 400 people.

At a special meeting the townspeople gave their full backing to the scheme which has been designed to train the character and charm of Killyleagh.

Building will be in two stages, with the first houses being put up on the vacant ground at the corner of Frederick Street and in the area bend the west of Irish Street. It is hoped that work will begin in April of next year, with the first houses being completed in 1978 and the whole scheme finished in 1980.

The plans were put to the people on Wednesday night at a meeting attended by representatives of the Housing Executive and consultants who drew up the plans.

Col Denys Rowan-Hamilton, the local councillor, who arranged for the survey of local opinion to be undertaken after a previous plan was rejected in 1974, said he was delighted with the new scheme.

“I am very pleased with the scheme and I don’t see that the Housing Executive will meet any real objections to it,” he said. “The people of Killyleagh will look forward to a higher standard of housing than they have had before.”

NEWCASTLE — A new home for old people costing over £330,000 is planned for Newcastle next year. Planning authorities have recently given permission for the home, which will accommodate more than 30 retired people, to be built at River House on Central Promenade.

A spokesman for the Fold Housing Association, which is going to build the home, said he hoped that work would commence in the late summer.

“The Fold scheme is not for a residential home, but rather it is designed to leave people with as much independence as possible,” he stressed.

He said the people would live in self-contained units and there would be a communal room for games and recreational pursuits.

BALLYNAHINCH — Ballynahinch is fast becoming one of the district’s worst accident blackspots. Figures kept by the local police show that traffic accidents in the area have almost doubled over the past 12 months.

For the second successive week the station was kept busy with a spate of accidents, some of which involved injuries that required hospital treatment.

Monday proved to be the worst day with three accidents being reported. The worst occurred on the Magheraknock Road where a father and son were injured in a three-vehicle crash. The son, aged 12, received head injuries.

Earlier the same day two accidents occurred at the same time, but at different locations. One involved an army four-ton truck which left the Ballycreen Road, just outside the town, and injured four soldiers.

The previous day a girl was knocked down and slightly injured on the Newcastle Road, Drumaness. On Wednesday a woman was slightly injured in High Street.

SAINTFIELD — Mr R D MacPherson, headmaster of Saintfield Secondary School, welcomed comprehensive education as a “bombshell of greater significance than the economic, political and social state of our country” when he addressed parents at his school’s prize giving.

Mr MacPherson criticised the present education system for being “based on a Victorian philosophy which divided our society and our education.”

Mr MacPherson welcomed a change to comprehensive education which would mean that Saintfield Secondary School would become a comprehensive school catering for all the children in area between the ages of 11 and 16.

Mr MacPherson said definite changes in education thinking were taking place and he hoped that this “spirit of adventure and social justice with the vision of fairer educational opportunities for our children” would continue.

CROSSGAR — The Unionist Party of Northern Ireland’s candidate in the forthcoming local elections, Mr John McKee, has come out against the recent Government decision to scrap plans for factory development in Crossgar.

Mr McKee stated that Crossgar needed more industry and he intended to lend his support to all who opposed the decision to turn down the planning application for three factories on the Ballynahinch Road.

Mr McKee’s statement indicates that Crossgar industrial development is likely to be an important issue in the forthcoming local elections.

ARDGLASS — Ardglass Sharks Basketball Club’s 18th annual tournament on Saturday was won by Collegians, who had a decisive 39-27 victory over Star of the Sea in the final. The cup and trophies were presented by General Sir John Anderson, president of the Sharks club.

Another important presentation was made when Charlie McStay deservedly got the Sharks ‘most improved player’ award for 1976 on a day when he was outstanding performer for the locals.

DUNDRUM — Neville Thomas Neill, elder son of Mr and Mrs T Neill, Castle Hill, Dundrum, has gained his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Computer Science in the winter graduation at Queen’s University. Doctor Neill is a former pupil of Down High School. A keen sportsman, he is a member of the Downpatrick first XI and Ulster Country cricket teams.

STRANGFORD — Glebe House holiday home for children, near Strangford, has received a gift of £3,000 from Norway. A cheque for that amount from Norwegian Inner Wheel and Rotary Clubs was recently received in Oslo by Dr Hylda Armstrong on behalf of Glebe House.

The money is intended to help the work of reconciliation being carried out at the children’s holiday home. Dr Armstong also received a cheque from representatives of the Norwegian Red Cross during her visit when she addressed many organisations on the activities of Glebe House.

BALLYWARD — Santa will be one of the guests present at the Christmas sale being organised in Ballyward Church Hall on Friday night. The sale is being run by Drumgooland Parish Church and the stalls will include work, cakes and groceries.