From the pages of the Down Recorder, March 11, 1980

From the pages of the Down Recorder, March 11, 1980

11 March 2020

DRUMANESS — One regular in a pub will be sadly missed this weekend — unless someone responds to a plea from a heartbroken Drumaness family.

Since the ‘Lassie type dog owned by the Rice family of the Park House Inn in the village went missing on Saturday night, things have not been the same among regulars at the bar.

Family pet Rory was a favourite with customers at the bar and already they are missing him.

This week Mr Hugh Rice made a plea for the person who took the collie dog to return it.

“I last noticed Rory around 11.30pm but shortly after that he vanished. I believe that someone tempted him into a car and drove off,” Mr Rice explained.

“Rory is three years old and his parents were both champions. We have had him since he was a pup and he became popular with customers and people around here.”

But the customers are not the only ones who are missing Lassie. Hugh’s four children, Patrina (7), Hugh (6), Lisa (5) and Roger (3), have been left heartbroken and all this week they have been out searching for him.

Mr Rice has offered a reward and anyone who might know anything about Rory’s whereabouts should contact him at the Park House.

RAHOLP — Champagne flowed at Cheltenham on Tuesday when local horses took on the might of England and won.

Slaney Idol, owned by Mrs Mary Hynes, of Slaney Inn, Raholp, took the £12,000 prize in the Waterford Crystal Supreme novices hurdle, while Going Straight, owned by Mr Noel McGrady of Downpatrick finished fourth.

The third local horse appearing at Cheltenham was Kickwyn, owned by Ballynahinch stables, S J Martin, but although it finished the Kim Muir Memorial Challenge Cup handicap chase it didn’t get among the prizes.

But it was Slaney Idol, ridden by Tommy Carmody, that took the honours. Bred by Brian Hayes and trained by Liam Browne, it gradually moved through the field to the front runners with several fences to jump.

It moved clear with one hurdle left and stayed in front of Daring Run to take the big prize.

Going Straight, trained by Jeremy Maxwell at Ballee, was in a good position under near the end, but jockey Joe Byrne had to be content with fourth position.

DOWNPATRICK — Five former students of Down High School, Downpatrick, are to be presented with the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

They are Stephen Calvert, Jonathan Gifford, Gary McKee, James Milligan and Michael Wheeler, all from the Downpatrick area. The presentation will take place at Buckingham Palace, on March 25 and Prince Philip will attend.

The group of Downpatrick lads joined in at least three of the same pursuits in their selection of four out of five sections in the scheme. Their activities included attending the local fire station on 12 different occasions for one night in the week. At the end of this period they were given a written examination.

Then there was an expedition to the Mournes. Before this undertaking they were taught first-aid, the use of maps and compass and camp craft, including cookery.

Furthermore they had to spend three nights under canvas, plan a 50 mile hike and when completed write an account of their experience.

NEWCASTLE — The girls of St Mary’s school in Newcastle were feeling on top of the world this week — and it’s hardly surprising.

The made quite an impact at the Portadown Festival of Speech and Verse, and they’ve got the medals to prove it.

The most outstanding success was Catherine McInerney, who collected five medals and a certificate but seven of her schoolmates also featured in the awards.

Geraldine Doran, Donna Corrigan, Orla Campbell, Tara Devlin, Orla Fitzsimons, Bronagh McInerney and Marve Boyle also impressed the Portadown judges.

And just to round off a memorable week, two of the girls, Maeve Johnston also collected awards at the Belfast Festival.

Meanwhile, not to be outdone, two teams entered by St Mary’s High School, Downpatrick, won the first and second awards at Portadown in the 11-14 years age section.

And in the competition for the Ida Patterson Cup they were judged into second and third place.

Another local school team for St Mary’s PS, Killyleagh, won the Kenmuir Cup in the 9-11 age group.

KILLYLEAGH — A new Killyleagh firm bidding for Government sponsorship was given a massive boost at a major gardening exhibition in England this week.

The firm, Killyleagh Box Company, displayed a selection of horticulture boxes made from extruded polypropylene, and substantial interest was shown in the product be people at the exhibition.

The new firm is a subsidiary of the Inch-based C & C Trees Ltd and is based at factory space vacated by the tannery at Shrigley, beside Northern Ireland Plastics. And this week a co-director of the firm, Mr John Cushney, explained that they had plans to dramatically expand its operations.

Mr Cushney explained that the new firm used the plastic material produced by Northern Ireland Plastics at Shrigley.

The Box Company was operating on a small scale at present but they were seeking LEDU assistance and hoped to take on full-time workers shortly, said Mr Cushney.

BALLYNAHINCH — Plessey, the electronics and communications giant which has a factory at Ballynahinch, announced significant profits over the third quarter of the current financial year.

A 6,200,000 advance was disclosed by the directors for this three month period, ending in December, giving a pre-tax total of £16,026,000.

This result not only comfortably tops the earlier market estimates for Plesses, but more than wipes our the interim setback for group profitability.

At the halfway stage the group results had been down by some £3,700,000.

Thanks to the third quarter Plessey now shows nine months’ profits of £35,442,000 — an improvement of £2,500,000 on the same period in the previous financial year.

ARDGLASS — The fishing industry along the Co Down coast is in danger of total collapse, a leading fisherman warned.

The warning came from Mr Ian Morris, chairman of the Northern Ireland Fishing Organisation, and he stressed the port of Ardglass might even close.

“I don’t think it is exaggerating to say Kilkeel, Portavogie and even Ardglass could close. And who would care?” Mr Morris asked.

“It is only another 1,000 men or so unemployed and spread among the villages here. I think the Government could let us go to the wall.”

His warning came in a week of anxiety and protest for local fishermen. It was a comment which prompted Ardglass councillor, Mr Dermot Curran, to describe as being in a “terrible situation”.

“It is a serious problem and is getting more serious each day. It is not just a question of conservation or mesh sizes,” Mr Curran said.

He emphasised the dependance of the town of Ardglass on the fishing industry and called for Agricultural Minister, Mr Giles Shaw, to look at the problems of the industry.

CATHEDRAL — A former Ardglass rector, now rector at Newtownards, has been appointed Canon of Down Cathedral, as Prebendary of Dunsford. He is the Rev R J Chisolm, who succeeds the Rev J H R Good, of Carryduff, who becomes the new Precentor in Down Diocese.

The Rev Chisolm has been rector of St Mark’s, Newtownards, since 1951, and is married with two sons. He will be installed by the Dean of Down, the Very Rev R W Kilpatrick, on Sunday.

Mr Chisolm served his first curacy in St Donard’s, Belfast, before moving to Ardglass. He is a member of the South Eastern Education and Library Board and a founder member of the Northern Ireland Hospital Chaplain’s Association.

Several other appointments have been made in the Chapter of Down Cathedral. Canon E S Barber, of Holywood, takes over as Chancellor in place of Canon A McKelvie, who is now retired and Canon H Leckey, of Bangor Abbey, takes over from Canon T H Frizelle, who is also retired.