From the pages of the Down Recorder, January 18, 1972

From the pages of the Down Recorder, January 18, 1972

18 January 2012

ARDGLASS — A public inquiry should be held to allay local disquiet about the loss of life in Saturday’s double drowning tragedy, Ardglass Town Committee decided at its meeting on Wednesday.

There has been criticism of the Coastguard and those at the scene who saved one of the three occupants of the 35ft. motor cruiser, which was about three miles from the Isle of Man when its engine broke down.

The missing couple were the owner, Martin Agnew (27) and his 22 year-old wife, Allison, from Ramsey in the Isle of Man. The man who was saved was William Thomas (35), also from Ramsay. He discharged himself from the Downe Hospital on Sunday. Of his rescuers, he said they deserved medals.

The boat had drifted for 18 hours before coming to grief near the clubhouse at Ardglass Golf Club, not 200 yards from the harbour entrance.

Screaming for help, Mrs. Agnew was washed out to sea in the backwash, but her husband reappeared, floating face down, near the rocks. As three men positioned themselves to grab him, he vanished.

NEWCASTLE — Specul-ation is mounting in the Newcastle and Castlewellan areas as to whether Sunday’s proposed anti-internment protest march will be allowed to take place. All such demonstrations have been prohibited by the Prime Minister’s announcement on Tuesday banning all parades for a further year.

In spite of this, a meeting at Hilltown, at which 25 SDLP, Civil Rights Association and Nationalist Party organisations were represented, unanimously decided to go ahead with the match — no matter what. But a CRA spokesman stressed this week to the Recorder that the movement plans a non-violent demonstration. The CRA have arranged the march to start from Castlewellan at 2pm. Marchers will make their way to Donard car park in Newcastle where a rally will be held.

The meeting in the park will be addressed by Miss Bernadette Devlin, Mr. James O’Reilly, Mr. Austin Currie, Mr. Ivan Cooper, Mr. Paddy Devlin, Mr. Frank McManus, Mr. Rory McShane and Miss Margo Collins.

STRANGFORD — Ulsterbus this week came half way to meeting the demands of Strangford parents who had protested publicly over the firm’s rescheduled bus service.

Managing director, Mr. Werner Heubeck, addressed a packed audience in the village on Thursday of last week when he listened to complaints and put his company’s viewpoint.

Having spent four days reviewing the situation, he returned on Tuesday to meet a deputation of irate parents who claim the altered service has left children with too much time on their hands without supervision before school opening times.

After studying the economic question and the children’s situation the firm had proposed the following new schedules for the parents’ consideration: bus to leave Strangford at 8.10am for Downpatrick followed by another service at 8.27am for Downpatrick via Ballyculter.

The meeting agreed that the education authorities should contact school principals with a view to ensuring supervision for children arriving on the earlier bus. Fr. Matthew Dillon, who presided at the meeting, said: “If these assurances can be got from the schools, parents will be more inclined to accept the new schedules.”

KILLYLEAGH — Although a public appeal for support in restoring the Martin Memorial Clock in Shrigley recently received scant response, a resident expressed his willingness to donate £100, Killyleagh Town Committee members were told at their annual meeting on Monday night.

Mr. Richard Green intimated that the clock was in a dilapidated condition and only £22 had been realised from a public collection. It was stated that to restore the memorial to its former stated would involve an outlay in the region of £2,000.

BALLYNAHINCH — Demolition work on the Station House in Ballynahinch started this week. Most of the interior has been dismantled and soon this prominent feature of the town will have disappeared. its place will be taken by a more modern building, housing a clinic and library.

Removal of the building will renew discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of the closure of the old Belfast and County Down Railway.

SAINTFIELD — In order to maintain the vital supply of blood required in our hospitals the Blood Transfusion Service needs the support, not only of those members of the public currently donating blood, but also that of new donors. Any normal healthy person between the age of 18 and 65 years can give blood and is invited to attend Saintfield courthouse on January 24 when a unit will be present.

DOWNPATRICK — New hairdresser at Frank Cherry’s salon in Scotch Street is 18 year-old Brian Dorrian, fresh from Belfast’s leading establishment, Sweeney Todd’s.

Although he’s spent most of his life in the city, Brian’s family comes from Downpatrick and he lives with his folks in Bridge Street. The introduction of Brian is an indication of the booming business being done in the area in the way of hair styling.

Mr. Cherry, who served his apprenticeship with Eric Maxwell, took over the business when his employer retired because of ill health.

FINNIS — The first public meeting of the Ulster Democratic Unionist Party in Co. Down was held in Finnis Orange Hall, near Dromara, on Thursday night last. Guest speakers were Mr. Desmond Boal MP, Rev. Ivan T. Foster and Mr. Oliver Gibson, chairman of the Co. Tyrone Ulster Democratic Unionist Association.