From the pages of the Down Recorder, June 17, 1971

From the pages of the Down Recorder, June 17, 1971

17 June 2015

DOWNPATRICK — Downpatrick’s former railway station will soon be replaced by a modern bus terminus and the contractors, Messrs McLaughlin & Harvey, expect to being work early next month. Plans for the new terminus and garage for Ulsterbus were approved by the urban council some weeks ago and the project will cost in the region of £85,000.

It is hoped to have a garage completed by November and a pound nearby will provide accommodation for forty buses. A maintenance shop will have three pits with a sunken workshop. The building will also include general office, parcels office, a room for conductors to make up their receipts, a general waiting room for travellers, an inspector’s office, a depot manager’s office and a staff rest room.

The old station has been an eyesore in the Lower Market Street area since parts of it were demolished after the closure of the railway in 1949.

When combined with a proposed £200,000 shopping centre for the area, this could be one of the most attractive parts of the town — and probably one of the busiest, for the new library and welfare offices are also to be built there.

Next week marks the 125th anniversary off the introduction of  the Belfast and County Down Railway. But when Lower market Street has been fully developed there will be little evidence that a railway service had ever existed.

ANNADORN — Over the years Annadorn farmer, Mr. Maurice Nelson, has been delighted at the consistent calving of his Friesian cow. But now 23 year-old Freda has really excelled herself by producing twin calves.

Mr. Nelson is wondering if the animal can command a place in the Guinness Book of Records. “It must be unique,” he said. “She hasn’t got a tooth in her head and in the winter months has to be taken indoors because she loses weight and finds walking a bit too much for her.”

Freda was purchased for £3-10-0 from Mr. John Kennedy, of Knocksticken, Castlewellan, in 1948. A Ministry of Agriculture spokesman said: “This is really exceptional. It’s difficult to equate a cow’s life span with that of a human being, but I understand the ratio is one to seven.”

This would make Freda a sprightly 161 year-old. Holy Cow!

STRANGFORD — The urgent need for a second vessel to maintain a reliable ferry service between Strangford and Portaferry is to be impressed upon the Ministry of Development in the strongest terms.

That was the message yesterday from Down County Council whose existing vessel broke down the previous day, causing annoyance to many commercial users queued up on both sides of the lough.

For more than 18 months the council have been trying to obtain approval for a relief vessel and the fact that there has not been any indication of success annoyed councillors at yesterday’s annual meeting.

When the boat is taken out of service for three weeks in the autumn, only a passenger service can be provided by using two open motor launches. The County Surveyor, Mr. C. A. Craig, said it was too much to expect a vessel to operate for 16 hours a day, seven days a week without experiencing breakdowns.

RADEMON — Mr. John McRobert, The Acre, Rademon, Crossgar, has received the award of the Order of the British Empire for political services in Co. Down in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. He has been election agent for the Prime Minister, Mr. Brian Faulkner, since 1948 and is the long serving secretary of the East Down Unionist Association and the South Down Imperial Association.

Mr. McRobert has been a member of the Ulster Unionist Council for thirty years and has served on the standing and executive committees for over twenty years. He has also represented the Ulster Unionist Council on the Boundary Commission and was a member of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board for six years.

BALLYNAHINCH — A new chapel at the Assumption Convent, Ballynahinch, will be opened on June 20, so realising an ambition fostered by the Missionary Sisters since their arrival in the town in 1932.

Constant demands for school extensions on meagre funds made this impossible until 1965 when it was decided that valuable money was being wasted in an effort to keep the old convent habitable. It was decided that rebuilding must be started.

Years of talking, planning and modifying eventually evolved a practical plan. Funds had to be sought and a voluntary subion and covenanted scheme was worked up. The generous response by many friends raised sufficient capital.

SAINTFIELD — Saintfield’s 27th annual agricultural show and gymkhana takes place tomorrow at the Demesne and one man who is keeping his fingers crossed for good weather is Dr. James S. McKelvey, the president.

The entries this year are up by 200 and almost reach the 2,000 mark. A total of 55 cups and special prizes, along with £700 prize money, will be competed for. Mrs. Brian Faulkner, wife the Prime Minister, will be in attendance to present the cups and prizes.

“We are extremely happy about our entry figures,” said Dr. McKelvey, who has been president of the show since its inception in 1944. “All we really need now is the promise of good weather.”

ARDGLASS — The need for the public to be consulted in the provision of amenities and equipment for the new playing field at Meadow Court, Ardglass, was stressed by the chairman of the local town committee, Mr. Brian Fitzsimons, when he announced there would be a public meeting in St. Mary’s Hall, Ardglass, next Wednesday.

Mr. Fitzsimons expressed the hope that the meeting would be well attended. “It’s little use the public complaining afterwards when they don’t take part.”

CASTLEWELLAN — Mr. Edward Hawkins, of 12 Kennedy Estate, Castlewellan, has left on a Churchill Fellowship to Afghanistan for six weeks to take part in the Ulster Expedition to Hindu Kush.

PORTAFERRY — A Portaferry man has won the top award of the Strabane Agricultural School. He is Patrick Lennon, of Killydressy, and he received his award recently. He also captured the UFU prize for the best practical worker.

NEWCASTLE — The senior pupils of Newcastle County Primary School presented their annual concert in the school’s assembly hall on two evenings this week.

Lighting and effects were by Mr. Wm. Davey, vice-principal, costumes by Miss McDowell and Miss Moore, make-up by Mrs. Smyth and Miss McDowell, and stage properties and decor by Mr. McBride. Mrs. M. E. Stuart was in charge organisation and continuity and Mrs. Hunter of musical and drama production. Lesley Mackie fulfilled admirably her duties as announcer.

RAFFREY — The annual children’s day services at Raffrery Presbyterian Church were held on Sunday when the preacher was the Rev. J. Thompson, of Portglenone. Readers at the morning service were Shirley McConnell and Carson, and in the afternoon Stephen Kinghan and Evelyn Coulter.

DUNDRUM  Two Dundrum members of the 4th Battalion the Irish Rangers will be going to Germany as part of this year’s training cycle. They are Sergeant B. W. Cooper and Ranger P. Connor.

MOURNES — Several hundred sponsors climbers invaded Slieve Binnian (2,499 feet) at the weekend to raise funds for the Annalong Combat Cancer Group of the Ulster Cancer Foundation.

The climb to the summit was in four stages and the route was marshalled by members of the Mourne Rambling Club. Each climber who reached the summit received a mountaineering certificate personally signed by one of Northern Ireland’s best known athletes, Empire Games gold medallist Miss Mary Peters.