From the pages of the Down Recorder, March 28, 1972

28 March 2012

DOWNPATRICK — The Downpatrick and District Committee of the Cancer Research Campaign have raised over £10,000 since its inception in 1959, Mr. Arthur Fowweather, chairman, reported at the annual meeting held last week. Mr. Fowweather said the very fact of the local committee being in existence had served to attract almost £500 from miscellaneous subions during the year.

While welcoming anything that could be done to bring fresh hope in the fight against cancer, Mr. Fowweather expressed the opinion that progress could best be made if funds were channelled into the research centres especially geared to study the disease. He was again indebted to the committee, the collectors and the public who so generously supported the fund.

Proposing the re-election of Mr. Fowweather as chairman, Mr. T. Stevenson paid tribute to his leadership and the nomination was seconded by Mr. T. Orr and unanimously approved. Mr. Stevenson was re-elected vice-chairman, Miss M. E. Bassett and Mrs. M. A. Lowe, secretaries, and Mr. L. C. Edwards agreed to continue as treasurer for a short period.

NEWCASTLE — Newcastle ratepayers will have to find an extra 34.5 pence in the £1 next year. The local urban council announced this week that the rate for 1972-73 has gone up from £1.97.5 to £2.32 — the largest increase in the town’s history.

The town clerk, Mr. Ian Watts, said that in recent years they had been able to subsidise the rates to a large extent by using credit which had accumulated. Now that credit had finally run out.

The council chairman, Mr. Archie Cairns, said that because of the suspension of Stormont due consideration should be given to the possibility of shelving legislation on local government reorganisation so that changes in the whole structure of rating could be discussed.

The domestic rate has gone up from £1.69 to £2.02, an increase of 33p. The figure for mixed hereaditaments, at £2.17, shows an increase of 33.5p and the net annual valuation of the town has increased by 1,652 to £73,010.10.

ANNSBOROUGH — About 150 rolls of linen were extensively damaged when a lorry caught fire at the Standard Mills, Annsborough, in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The lorry, owned by a Belfast firm, had brought the load of linen for processing at the mill and was parked under a canopy roof between two buildings. The canopy was burnt out.

First at the scene of the blaze was the firm’s own fire-fight team who live locally and it is believed their prompt action saved the vehicle from complete wreckage. Hot on their heels came the Newcastle brigade who spent about two hours mopping up at the site. Local police investigations are continuing.

KILLYLEAGH — Brian Morrison, club leader of Killyleagh YFC, is the Ulster Young Farmer of the Year, having won the annual competition organised by the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster. Brian (23) has been a YFC member for over ten years, first with the Downpatrick club and later with Killyleagh YFC, where he has held office as treasurer and council representative before being elected club leader two years ago.

He has always taken a keen interest in competitions, having won proficiency awards for public speaking, group debating, sheep, pigs and cattle judging and silage making. He came second in last year’s Young Farmer competition. Educated at Down High School and Queen’s University, where he obtained a degree in agriculture, Brian is now working for his Master’s degree at Queen’s. He lives at home at Inch, Downpatrick, where his father, Mr. T. J. Morrison, farms 170 acres. About 30 acres of barley are grown annually and there is a milking herd of 450 Friesians.

BALLYNAHINCH — The annual congregational social meeting of Ballynahinch Congregational Church was held in the Memorial Hall last week. Reports were kept to a minimum with only the treasurer and secretary giving accounts of their work. Other reports were printed in the church financial publication. The secretary, Mr. Gibson McKee, stated that the church had experienced another successful year and he conveyed his appreciation to all leaders and to the committee for their co-operation. He then thanked Mr. I. Jackson, treasurer, and Mr. A. Reid, financial secretary

CROSSGAR — Three Downpatrick men were injured when a Hillman Imp car crashed at Main Street, Crossgar, on Friday night. Brothers William and Dominic Smyth were slightly injured. John Clarke was admitted to Downe Hospital to be admitted to Downe Hospital to be treated for head injuries. The men were assisted at the scene of the accident by Downpatrick firemen and local police.

CASTLEWELLAN — Monday’s Castlewellan Court started in semi-darkness because the two-day strike had cut electricity supplies. Then, as a witness from the Electricity Board for Northern Ireland came forward to give evidence, the lights suddenly came on. It was perhaps ironical that the case being heard was that of a man charged with dishonestly using a quantity of electricity.

INCH — A successful mannequin parade in aid of 1st Inch Scout Troop was held in the War Memorial Hall, Crossgar, last week when Mrs. L. McKee introduced Mrs. J. A. Donnelly who performed the opening ceremony. Ladies’ wear by Dorothy, children’s by Ethel and gents’ by Robb’s Boutique, Killyleagh, were provided to the models who displayed their garments to advantage.

DOWNPATRICK — The Aristocats, from Walt Disney Productions, will be on the Grand Cinema screen in Downpatrick for four nights, commencing Easter Monday at 8pm. When these swingin’ cats get going, look out for the wildest movie since Baloo and Mowgli stepped down from the pages of The Jungle Book.

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