From the pages of the Down Recorder, March 2, 1976

From the pages of the Down Recorder, March 2, 1976

2 March 2016

MOURNES — An exercise by the police mountain rescue team was turned into a full scale operation on Saturday evening when a total of 13 people were reported lost in two separate incidents.

The team was involved in a rescue exercise when they were informed that a group of nine youths had failed to arrive at a rendezvous point in the Mourne Mountains within two hours of a specified time.

The police team then joined the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team, helpers from Ardnabannon and an Army helicopter in a three-hour search before the group were found safe at Annalong Valley, near Cove Mountain.

However, there was no rest for the rescuers and they were alerted immediately again to search for a party of four who were finally found safe some five hours later.

Altogether more than 30 people were involved in the rescue operations which were hampered by foggy conditions. For one man the rescue operation was exhausting for it proved a climax to an 18-hour stint on the mountainside.

Constable William Brown, who has been stationed at Newcastle for 15 years, spent the morning helping a helicopter deliver salt licks on the mountain for the sheep. He had just time for his lunch before he set off with the police mountain rescue team on the afternoon training exercise.

When the first alarm was raised he joined the search for the missing group and when they were found he was switched to the search for the missing second group.

BALLYNAHINCH — A 19 year-old Ballynahinch man who lost an arm in a shooting accident at Burren is recovering in Downe Hospital. Compton Bell, of Drumhill Avenue, had been hunting at Burren with two friends when an accidental discharge seriously wounded his right arm.

His two friends flagged down a passing motorist and the lady applied a tourniquet to the wound. He was rushed to hospital where he underwent an operation.

NEWCASTLE — Security barrels may vanish from Newcastle streets this summer in an attempt to brighten up the seaside resort for the 1976 influx of tourists and trippers.

The barrels are to be replaced by concrete flower tubs and, if successful, the scheme will be extended to other major towns in the district, including Downpatrick, Castlewellan, Ballynahinch and Saintfield.

The man behind the idea, Newcastle councillor Paddy O’Donoghue, claims that the substitution of flower tubs will not reduce the effectiveness of security. “I am not trying to lessen security, but I think that it should be less unsightly,” he explained this week.

Mr O’Donoghue won support for his proposal at a Down Council meeting on Monday and with 100 per cent grant aid available from the Government, the council is expected to implement the idea before the new tourist boom begins.

DUNDRUM — A representative from the Eastern Health and Social Services Board was the guest speaker at the annual meeting of Dundrum Development Committee this week. He had come along to answer villagers’ queries about the local health centre.

The committee has decided to ask a representative to come along at a meeting a month ago as a result of the lease having expired on the health centre and fears that the village would be left without a doctor’s surgery.

In the meantime, the situation had been resolved. Even so, many of the villagers still took the chance to put questions to the representative.

Officers elected for the coming year: chairman, Mr D Cummins; vice-chairman, Mr J Carey; secretary, Miss M McDonald; assistant secretary, Mrs N Neill; treasurer, Mr J Johnston; assistant treasurer, Mr S McGlennon.

SAINTFIELD — A group of worried parents are to press for a road junction near a Saintfield school to be realigned. Already the parents at St Mary’s Primary School have asked the Department of Environment to build a footpath along the Old Grand Jury Road.

At a meeting this week the parents and the school principal, Mr Joseph O’Connor, discussed various ways of making motorists slow down. They claim that sooner or later a child walking on the road going to school will be injured or even killed.

Some parents suggested the road should be brought within the 30mph speed limit, while others wanted to see ramps laid. All agreed that the wide junction with the Crossgar Road was the most pressing problem as motorists entering the road did not have to slow down.

DOWNPATRICK — Downpatrick racecourse proved again yesterday that it can still attract racegoers from all parts of the country when it held its fist race meeting for over six months.

BBC television crews spent two days rigging up equipment for their broadcast of three of the four races, with four cameras pointed at vantage points along the course.

Peter Bromley, the BBC racing commentator came to the province specifically for the meeting. “Downpatrick is a good natural course,” he said. “It’s a pity that its future looks black.”

KILLINCHY — A single-engined plane crashed in a field at Killinchy yesterday, but the pilot and his passenger had a lucky escape.

The plane, from Queen’s University air squadron, was on a routine training flight when it developed a technical fault near the coast. it landed in a field near a reservoir. The two young men were able to climb from the damaged machine and make their way to a telephone.

RATHMULLAN — A new stained glass window was dedicated at Rathmullan Parish Church by the Bishop of Down and Dromore, the Rt Rev George Quin. The window, which depicts the story of the ‘Good Shepherd,’ was donated by Mr Jack Wilson in memory of his mother, Mrs Mary Wilson, who died in 1947.

Present at the service were two former rectors, the Rev J Finch and the Rev R L Hutchinson, and also in attendance were the son and grandson of another former rector, Canon Deacon, who was at Rathmullan for 50 years.

The Rev J Stewart, the current rector, led the service and neighbouring clergy were also in attendance.

KILLYLEAGH — Killyleagh Camera Club members visited the Portaferry club this week when they were given a splendid evening’s entertainment. This was in the form of a slide show and lecture on Downpatrick and district by Mr D J McNeill.

This has stimulated the Killyleagh club to attempt a similar project and they would like to ask the public for the loan of old and interesting pictures, photographs or documents of the Killyleagh locality. They should be left with Mr Norman Smyth, 1 High Street, Killyleagh.

COMBER — Only four eating houses in the province are listed in the Consumers Association Food Guide — and two of them are in Comber.

According to the guide, the Blades restaurant provided a “very sound meal with no frills, but using the best ingredients. The Old Crow is said to provide generous helpings and garnishes. Service is willing and capable.

The well established Barn restaurant in Saintfield is also listed in the guide

DRUMAROAD — More than 400 people attended a variety concert organised by Drumaroad GFC in the parochial centre. The main artistes were Liam McCaffrey, Brian McCann, Irene Bates and the Corrib Folk Group.

BALLYLONE — More than 200 people attended the dinner dance organised by Ballylone Amateur Flute Band in the Millbrook Lodge Hotel, Ballynahinch.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of a travelling case to band member Ian Harvey, who leaves soon for a stay in South Africa.