From the pages of the Down Recorder, February 20, 1973

From the pages of the Down Recorder, February 20, 1973

20 February 2013

BISHOPSCOURT — An East Down seafood processing company which has been operation only since September is currently employing fifty people — mostly female — and hopes to boost its labour force to 100 within the next few months.

The Ardglass Export Co. Ltd, whose factory is sited near Bishopscourt RAF station, was formed to exploit the American and European seafood markets. Mr. Alex Magee, of Ardglass, who has specialised in seafood preparation for over twenty years, is chairman and managing director of the company. His son, Kevin, is factory manager.

This week they took delivery of Northern Ireland’s first tunnel freezer, built by British Oxygen at a cost of £25,000 and capable of quick-freezing food within thirty seconds. It will be able to quick-freeze four tons of produce an hour.

A pioneer in the shipping of squid and monkfish, Mr. Magee was also one of the first in Northern Ireland to appreciate the potential of the prawn.

“There is a great opening for exporting seafood to the Continent and America,” he says. “We have no trouble getting rid of all the prawns and scallops we can get hands on and soon we intend handling herring and cod.”

Quick-frozen seafood will be exported by container from Belfast. “Perhaps one day Ardglass harbour will be able to cope in this respect,” Mr. Magee said. “If it could it certainly would be handy.”

CARRYDUFF — A UDR patrol in the Carryduff area, where snow was ten inches deep, with drifts by the side of the road up to two feet after the fall of snow on Monday night, changed their name to the ‘Snow Patrol” after rescuing twelve motorists in one hour. In one case, a kindly motorist, who had tried to pull out another, found himself stuck until they were both hauled free.

The good work continued during Tuesday morning and another UDR patrol had to haul out fourteen vehicles which were stuck. This lot included four lorries, all in the Saintfield area.

The next call reported that two ladies living in the Lisdoonan area had no bread and the bread van could not get through because of the snow. To make matters worse, no snow could be found in the Saintfield area. However, bread was eventually found in a shop at the Temple and after getting stuck once themselves, the UDR men managed to make the delivery.

DOWNPATRICK — The fourteenth annual meeting of the Downpatrick Hospitals Pipe Band took place recently in the conference room, Downshire Hospital, and the large attendance included representatives from the various hospitals in the area.

Founded in 1959, the band has gained distinction and acclaim by their excellent performances at such functions as garden fetes, sports meetings, etc., in addition to their successes at band contests.

The band practise every Monday under the tutelage of Pipe Major J. McAdams and when on parade, Pipe Major D. Keenan is in charge, assisted by Pipe Sgt. R. McComb. The drummers are coached by Drum Sergeant P. McDonald, a former All-Ireland winner in solo drumming.

BALLYNAHINCH — Two Ballynahinch boys had lucky escapes from injury this week. Seven year-old Donald Walsh, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Walsh, Highland Crescent, was uninjured when accidentally knocked down by a car driven by Mrs. Evelyn Patterson, Clintnagooland, on Wednesday.

On Saturday four year-old Garry David Bailie, of Willow Crescent, was knocked down by a car driven by Mr. Crothers, Antrim Road, Ballynahinch. He was none of the worse of the mishap.

BALLYHORNAN — The wrecked coaster, Tide, lying off the coast near Ballyhornan, is a pollution bomb, a member of Belfast Sub Aqua Club said yesterday. The coaster, which is lying in shallow water, is believed to contain about 40 tons of diesel oil which, if released, could damage the coastline and harm wildlife.

CASTLEWELLAN — Castlewellan police answered a 999 call on Tuesday afternoon, but the emergency was not as pressing as the caller thought. The well-intentioned person thought that the windows of the local Market House were in danger of being broken in a snowball fight among youngsters.

The Market House was slightly damaged a week earlier by vandals who lit a fire in the middle of the first floor.

STRANGFORD — Mrs. Mary Gilchrist, of Creenstown, Strangford, was fatally injured on Wednesday morning when she was a front seat passenger in her brother’s car.

Her brother, Mr. James Murnion, was taking her home from Strangford when his car overturned on the icy surface of Blackcauseway Road.

MINERSTOWN — Mr. John Perkes, of Minerstown, has been appointed a member of the Northern Ireland Water Council to advise the Ministries of Agriculture and Development on various aspects of the management of our water resources. He writes a weekly column for the Down Recorder.

NEWCASTLE — A young airman, David Osgood, who lives at Valentia Place, Newcastle, was seriously injured yesterday morning when his Mini went off the road and fell about 20 feet on the Dundrum-Clough Road at Mountpanther. Police and ambulance personnel extricated him from his car and he was taken to Downe Hospital.

DRUMANESS — Drumaness Cricket Club has written to the local recreation committee expressing the hope that it will soon have a home ground on which to play. Recently the club was promoted to the Qualifying League Section B and a home venue is now more imperative than ever.

CROSSGAR — The First Crossgar Boys’ Brigade were placed second in the Northern Ireland District squad drill finals in Ballymena on Saturday. Representing the Down Battalion, Crossgar qualified out of the semi-finals into the final six and took second place behind First Kilrea. Congratulations are due to Cpl. T. J. Lennon, who was placed third in the squad commander’s award.

SAINTFIELD — Time passed quickly for the audience in the Guild Hall, Saintfield, on Friday evening when Mr. W. A. Seaby, former director of the Ulster Museum, delivered a lecture on Ulster clocks and clock makers with special reference to County Down.