CROSSGAR — A special bus draped in black took bus crews to the funeral at Raffrey on Monday afternoon of Ulsterbus driver Jack Gibson, who was one of a number of people killed in an explosion which wrecked the Oxford Street bus terminus on Friday.
Mr. Gibson was due to celebrate his 46th birthday on Sunday and would have been receiving greetings from his wife Maureen and his five children. A member of a family linked with public transport in this part of County Down for many years, he had just brought in his bus after the mid-day run to Belfast and was handing in the cash and remaining stock of tickets when the explosion occurred.
Jackie, as he was affectionately known, had been on the Raffrey-Ballygowan-Belfast run for so long that he knew personally nearly every passenger using the service. He lived at Ballyalgin, Crossgar, and was highly regarded in the area. A member of Raffrey Presbyterian Church, he and his wife were members of the choir. He is also survived by his mother, who lives at Derryboye, and four brothers.
BALLYNAHINCH — Five people had a miraculous escape from death when a bomb exploded at Ballynahinch bus depot at midnight on Tuesday. The bomb, which is believed to have contained between 15 and 30 lbs of explosives, had gone off in the boot of a bus parked in the depot. It wrecked three vehicles and extensively damaged eight others.
An anonymous 999 call had been made half an hour earlier to Downpatrick telephone exchange. The message was given to Downpatrick police, who radioed the Ballynahinch car to have the area evacuated. Windows and roofs of several properties nearby were damaged. In Mr. Bob Gibb’s nearby Ballynahinch Car Mart glass windows at both ends of the showroom, as well as others in the workshop were blown in, yet scarcely one of the many cars on display was marked.
CASTLEWELLAN — A young Castlewellan man was drowned on Wednesday while holidaying in Donegal. He was Mr. Joseph Kane, of St. Malachy’s Crescent.
Mr. Kane, who was married was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Felix Kane, of Maghera, who returned home from the United States yesterday after their first holiday out of the country. They lost another son, Brendan, in a road accident not far from their home about four years ago.
A printer by trade, he was joint founder of the Printrite Press in Castlewellan with a former school friend, Mr. Tom McAlister. Both of them had been on the staff of the Down Recorder.
DOWNPATRICK — Ulsterbus driver Earl Nelson, his wife and three children had a lucky escape when a gas cartridge went off “like a bomb” in their tent at an Edinburgh campsite at the weekend.
Mr. Nelson and his family live at Marian Park, Downpatrick, and the accident happened when Mrs. Edna Nelson was cooking the evening meal.
Camp warden Jim Scott said: “The cartridge must have gone off like a bomb. I rushed over to help. The tent was not badly damaged and the flames soon died out, but the whole family was burned.”
Mr. Nelson led his family to safety from the tent and an ambulance was called to take them to hospital. He was later released, but his wife was detained in Bangour General Hospital with burns on her leg and arm. The three children were treated in the Royal Hospital for sick children.
SAINTFIELD — Congratulations are extended to Miss Angela Finlay, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. G. Finlay, 5 School Road, Saintfield, who has been awarded the degree of Bachelor of Education in the summer graduations at Queen’s. As part of her final examination she completed a thesis on the sociology of education, with particular reference to drug abuse among schoolchildren in Great Britain. A former pupil of Down High School, she has been appointed to a teaching post in the English Department at Dundonald Boys High School.
STRANGFORD — The 1st Strangford Scout Troop have just returned form their annual summer camp which was held at Glenlough, near Douglas in the Isle of Man. The troop visited Peel, Douglas, Laxey, Ramsey and the top of Snaefell via the Electric Railway. They also saw the new Summerland and Aquadrome.
A patrol competition which ran throughout camp was won by the badger patrol. The patrol leaders were James McKibbin, George McKibbin and Richard McKibbin. The Scouter in charge of the camp was Mr. Eric Sullivan.
DOWNPATRICK — Cancellation of the Downpatrick children’s excursion seems not to have deterred people of ingenuity. Many organised family outings or took part in improvised communal trips to the seaside.
The man with probably the most commendable idea was Mr. Jimmy McDowell, who organised a mini-bus excursion to Ballyhornan for parents and children. Following the pattern normally adopted on excursion day, Mr. McDowell’s party went through the customary formalities, including a refreshments session, shore sports and a parade along the street.
Parents and their families agree that this was the ideal substitute for the real thing, and something which should be persevered with, in the event of further abandonments of the annual Newcastle trip.
KILLYLEAGH — Two vans which had been used as changing-room accommodation by Killyleagh Gaelic Football Club were destroyed by fire at the weekend. An attempt was also made to set fire to the local Catholic Church and doors were slightly damaged after inflammable liquid was set alight.
KILCLIEF — Kilclief GAC are sponsoring a four-team gaelic football tournament in aid of the Irish Society for Mentally Handicapped children in which four local teams. Ardglass, Saul, Dunsford and Kilclief, will compete for a magnificent trophy kindly presented by Mr. Leo Magee, of Magee Sports, Downpatrick, and a set of trophies.
The host club feels that the cause to which the proceeds are to be devoted will recommend itself to the public as very worthwhile and it is to be hoped that the interest caused by local rivalry between the neighbouring clubs will encourage spectators to come out in support.