From the pages of the Down Recorder, June 18, 1974

From the pages of the Down Recorder, June 18, 1974

18 June 2014

DOWNPATRICK — A new super ambulance about to be put into service in Downpatrick is believed to be the first of its type in the United Kingdom.

It is equipped to deal with major road accidents and heart attacks in a way which is impossible at present and is very largely the result of community fund raising efforts spanning seven years. One of the biggest individual contributions came this week with a cheque for £1,000 from Downpatrick Lions Club.

Also this week the ambulance was shown to general practitioners, nurses and ambulance personnel for the first time. They are the people who will have to make it work and in the next couple of weeks will be undergoing intensive training so that it will be used to the best advantage when emergencies arise.

Downe Hospital now stands high above any of its size in the UK in terms of immediate first aid available to victims of major road crashes or people suffering from heart attacks. Such is the variety of sophisticated equipment carried that where seconds divide life and death intermediate degree surgery can be carried out by the roadside or while the vehicle is speeding back to the hospital.

The man largely responsible for the conception of the ambulance is consultant surgeon Mr. John Boyd. He has been the driving force behind the effort to have it built. “This entire project is the result of team work and it will only succeed if we get continued team work,” he said.

Mr. Boyd said that the achievement had been made possible by the massive public generosity shown over the past seven years.

KILLYLEAGH — Demolition of Killyleagh mill chimney began yesterday — but it will be a slow business as it comes down brick by brick. The chimney has not been in use for four years since an oil-fired boiler was installed to generate the flax spinning company’s steam requirements.

The 150 ft. chimney was built shortly after the mill was founded in 1851 and about eight years ago its six-foot cap had to be removed. Deterioration has set in since the chimney has been out of use and it is understood that demolition will not be complete until the end of June.

ARDGLASS — The Ardglass fish processing company, Seaborn (N.I.) Ltd., closed its doors to production this week after showing a trading loss in the region of £10,000 over the past 12 months. The Dublin-based firm say that the closure, which has put 20 people out of work, is not irrevocable and hope to resume production “in the near future.”

They claim that the closure, after 11 years of operation, has been imminent because of a drastic deflation in the UK market for frozen prawns. Rumours were rife at the factory after employees turned up for work on Monday and on Tuesday they were told from Dublin to seek new employment.

Mr. W. J. Hayden, director of Seaborn (Dublin) Ltd., told the Recorder: “It’s not a case of Northern Ireland being victimised. We have cut back production in the south as well.” The firm has three plants — at Ardglass, Dublin and Peel, Isle of Man.

Local councillor Dermot Curran said he was shocked and annoyed over the closure He feels that Ardglass is progressing towards being described as a “dormant village.”

“Requests to develop Ardglass harbour have been turned down and now this. What we are to do? Fishing is what Ardglass is all about,” he said.

BALLYNAHINCH — Fr. Hugh Matthew O’Kane was ordained to the priesthood at St. Patrick’s Church, Ballynahinch. It was the first ever ordination to take place in the town.

Son of Dr. F. J. O’Kane and Mrs. Mina O’Kane, he spent four years in Queen’s University, Belfast, where he obtained his B.A. he then studied in Maynooth where he obtained his B.D. earlier this year. Bishop Patrick Kelly performed the ordination and Fr. O’Kane’s uncle, Fr. Matt Campbell, was among those present.

Fr. O’Kane left Ballynahinch this week to attend a pentecostal movement meeting in America. In September he will be going to the missions in Nigeria.

CROSSGAR — Crossgar Choral Society launched a very successful show in the War Memorial Hall. Organised under the direction of Mr. Bertie Rourke, conductor, and his sister, Mrs. Stella King, the concert was produced by Mr. Joe Lyttle.

The 50-strong choir sang many beautiful melodies and soloists were Miss Betty Smyth, soprano, and Mr. Ronnie Hutchinson, bass. Mrs. Maureen Bingham and Mr. Bob Hanna sang a duet. The instrumentalist was Mrs. Renee Finney, who brought a touch of Scottish flavour to the event with her beautiful accordion selection of Scottish songs.

SAINTFIELD — A Saintfield man was honoured by the company for which he has worked for 40 years at a presentation ceremony in the Carman’s Inn, Crossgar. He is Mr. Martin Deignan, a very well known figure in the area who in 1934 began his career in the Hollywood & Donnelly owned Comber distillery.

Soon he became a director and company secretary and when the distillery was sold in 1953 he accepted similar posts with the parent company. At one time he owned the Sports Bar in Saintfield and his father and brother were both police head constables in the village. He is president of Saintfield Cricket Club, for which he was a noted player in earlier years.

DUNDRUM — Mr. Kenneth McCammon, of Dundrum, has been appointed vice-principal of Castlewellan Secondary School in succession to Mr. James Hall, who retires at the end of term. Mr. McCammon, a past pupil of Down High School and a playing member of Downpatrick Cricket Club, has been on the staff of the school for nine years and previously taught at Annadale Grammar School.

TYRELLA — St. John’s Church, Tyrella, after being closed for eight weeks for repair and decoration, was reopened at a service at which the preacher was Dr. George Quinn, bishop of the diocese. The service was conducted by the rector, the Rev. R. L. Hutchinson, and also taking part were the Rev. J. D. Caldwell, Dundrum, and the Rev. W. R. P. McCreerey, Annalong. Over £2,000 was spent on actual material for the church and £1,000 worth of voluntary work was also done.

BALLYNAHINCH — July 23 sees the start of another summer activity scheme which in the Ballynahinch area will be centred on the Secondary School, Belfast Road, Ballynahinch. Again it lasts for three weeks and will be open to all young people from the area and visiting friends who are of secondary school age. This will included those pupils in their last year of primary school.

Many young people learned to swim during the scheme last year and this year more will be visiting Downpatrick learner pool and the main pool in Lisburn. Other activities are likely to include canoeing, orienteering, fishing, golf, go-karting, football, cricket volleyball, hockey, tennis, athletics, discos and much more.

DOWNPATRICK — A 17 year-old apprentice bricklayer was injured when he fell through a roof during work at the new primary school under construction near Down High School, Downpatrick. He is Francis Braniff, of Drumaroad Hill, Castlewellan. He was taken to Downe Hospital where he was detained.

CRICKET — Alfie Linehan, Downpatrick cricketer extraordinary, sportsman supreme, is the new captain of the Irish XI. He will lead out the international side in Denmark on June 21-23.

Alfie, who is a household name wherever cricket is played, has been to the forefront in the game ever since the early 1950s when he twice captained the local club’s Graham Cup team. When he collects his sixth Irish cap in Denmark with the added distinction of leading the Irish team on to the field, it will be the culmination of all his ambitions.

It has been a short lifetime spent in the dedication of the game he loves — to the extent of delaying his honeymoon while he led his team on his wedding day!