From the pages of the Down Recorder, March 11, 1975

From the pages of the Down Recorder, March 11, 1975

11 March 2015

CROSSGAR — A four year-old Crossgar boy’s life was saved by a remarkable twist of luck. Mark McGreevy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Rock McGreevy, of Lislea Drive, was playing with a friend, Adrian Wilson (4), on the riverbank near his home when he fell in.

Minutes later, he was fished out by a passer-by, but it was not that dramatic rescue alone that saved his life.

The river was cleaned out this week and the flow was unusually fast. The boy, who apparently became unconscious shortly after his fall, was carried face downwards by the current.

Fortunately, a digger driver, who at the time was crossing the bridge on the Crossgar-Saintfield Road, noticed the incident and immediately jumped out of his vehicle and rushed down the embankment. He managed to fish out Mark, who by this time had floated a considerable distance.

Then came the twist of luck. Unknowingly, the rescuer grabbed the child in such a way that he exerted pressure on the boy’s lungs and the water in the lungs automatically poured out.

An experienced senior hospital nurse, who was standing nearby, later explained that the child must have been close to expiration at the time he was pulled out and but for the pressure on the lungs at a critical time he would have died.

DROMARA — A 53 year-old Dromara haulage contractor was fatally injured last Thursday when he was crushed under the body of one of his lorries. He was Mr. Ernest Gibson, who was married and had three daughters. 

KILCLIEF — Anger and dismay at the Department of the Environment’s decision to use Kilclief bay as a sewage disposal area for its many collection units was expressed at a recent meeting of the Strangford branch of the SDLP.

Members protested vigorously at the Department’s “blatant disregard” for the safeguard  of beaches against possible contamination and also for the welfare of the many users of these sandy coves.

According to the branch’s information, several sewage disposal lorries are engaged in drawing effluent to the pumping station situated beside Kilclief bay and that this raw sewage is being pumped into the bay at the rate or several lorry loads per day.

The sandy beaches are used by large numbers of tourists, holidaymakers and locals. The branch members felt that the possible pollution resulting from the discharge could constitute a serious health hazard. The long term effect that this could have on the marine life in the waters is not yet known.

After a long discussion it was decided that the matter should be brought immediately to the attention of the Department, calling upon them to discontinue using the pumping station for this purpose.

DOWNPATRICK — The fight to keep Downpatrick racecourse on its feet was given a boost on Wednesday when the one-day race meeting proved an overwhelming success with terrific support from local people.

Money-wise, it was the best ever gate recorded and the large crowd was comparable to the thousands who attended the meeting in 1962 when the Queen Mother’s horse was running.

Barry Ross, registrar of the course, referred to its success as a terrific start to their revival to keep the course in action. Apart from the gate, he stressed the high number of horses running.

The next meeting will be on Friday and Saturday, May 9-10, when it is hoped there will be some amenity improvement.

KILLOUGH — Concern about the continuing delay in commencing work on the crumbling pier at Killough, due to the legal wrangle over the question of ownership, was expressed at the village committee’s meeting.

The committee are aware of the inevitable consequence of losing the remaining protection against flooding on a wide scale, now that heavy seas have severely eroded the structure and left it in imminent danger of collapse.

Representations are being made and it is hoped that action will be taken very soon. Meanwhile, some members reported that strangers had been caught in the act o carrying away loose stones from the pier for building purposes.

ARDGLASS — Once upon a time there was a telegraph pole at Ardtole on the Dunsford-Ardglass Road. It lived happily between its neighbouring telegraph poles, doing its job efficiently.

But then one day, two weeks ago to be precise, it was cut short — quite literally in fact, for it was cut clean in two by an RAF Land Rover, which had failed to negotiate a bend.

Workmen soon put matters right and within several days they had erected a new pole. But on Saturday morning a Peugeot car went out of control and — yes that pole again.

Eventually maintenance operators from the Post Office went along to erect a new line and — yes that jinx again! One of the workmen fell and injured himself.

KILLYLEAGH — Plans by the Unionist Party of Northern Ireland on their campaign to capture the vacant Down Council seat were finalised at a meeting in Killyleagh last night which was addressed by the party leader, Mr. Brian Faulkner.

About 150 people attended the meeting organised by the Eastern area of the South Down UPNI association. Commander J. G. Maxwell was in the chair and Major Brownlow was the other guest speaker.

BALLYNAHINCH — Five coats, valued at a cost of £700, were taken from the Millbrook Lodge Hotel after Friday night’s dance. Three of the coats were Canadian Musquash fur, one was white nylon fur and other was sheepskin. Two of the more expensive coats were found several days later in a field at Drumbo.

SAINTFIELD — The Barn restaurant in Saintfield has come ‘top of the pots’ in the new Good Food Guide, which went on sale at the beginning of this week.

The Barn is said to have “individual cooking and attention to quality rare in the six counties.” The guide, which is published by the Consumers Association, lists more than 1,100 entries throughout the UK and Eire.

CASTLEWELLAN — Four houses in the Castlewellan area were broken into on Monday night. Nothing was taken but all four houses were ransacked. Two of the houses were in Burrenreagh, one was in Burrenbane and the fourth was a cottage in Middle Burren Road.

INCH — A very successful jumble sale organised by Inch Scouts was held in the Crossgar War Memorial Hall recently when almost £60 was raised. Also, a collection of two and a half tons of waste paper was sent to Belfast, the funds benefiting by £30.

The scouts are all looking forward to their summer camp this year, which will be spent in Holland — the troop’s first venture abroad. A party of 30 will be leaving Inch from July 23 to August 6.

KILLINCHY — Members of Killinchy Young Farmers’ Club entertained children in Newtownards Hospital last week. Presented provided by the visitors also helped to make the evening a popular one with the kids.

BALLYKINLAR — A Mini Traveller was extensively damaged when it collided with a Ford Thames coach on the Commons Road, Ballykinlar, on Saturday morning. The driver of the Mini, John Charles Stevenson, of Crossgar, was slightly injured.

TECONNAUGHT — St. Columba’s Hall was packed last Sunday evening for the annual Sportsman of the Year concert and social organised by Teconnaught GFC.

Speaking at the presentation of the awards, Mr. Harry McEvoy, chairman of the East Down GAA Board, congratulated the recipients, Mr. Matt Leneghan and Mr. Ted McHugh, on being picked as sportsmen of the year. He told both men that they had been honoured by their club and that it was an honour they would remember for many years to come.