From the pages of the Down Recorder, March 4, 1975

From the pages of the Down Recorder, March 4, 1975

4 March 2015

CASTLEWELLAN — A Castlewellan family of thirteen was left homeless at the weekend when fire gutted their three-bedroomed terrace house.

Mr. and Mrs. Jim Rice and their eleven children, who range in age from nine months to fourteen years, escaped uninjured, although there were early fears that one of the family was trapped in the blaze.

The family lost everything and were left with literally only the clothes they were wearing when they ran out of the building.

Mr. Rice was on his way to work a night shift when one of the his daughters alerted him to a fire in an upstairs bedroom. He tried in vain to smother the flames with blankets and then started to get his children out of the house. Two fire engines from Newcastle fought the blaze, but the home was too well alight to be saved.

Mrs. Rice and her children have spent the week with neighbours and work is expected to begin soon on repairing the damage. The couple were badly shocked over the incident and said afterwards that they didn’t know what to do about their future.

“We were only in the house six months. I don’t know what we would have done without the neighbours. They rallied round us magnificently.

MOURNES — The Mountain Rescue Team was called into operation on Saturday evening when a party of eleven children and two adults were reported overdue at the Shan Slieve centre in the Mournes.

The rescue team began their search at 8pm and two hours later one of the four search parties, led by Jim Cunningham, of South Promenade, Newcastle, found the missing party in the Hare’s Gap area. The party returned safely before midnight.

DOWNPATRICK — Although it is almost a year since the burring of St. Patrick’s Hall, the biggest in Downpatrick, a decision cannot be taken on its replacement until the results of a compensation claim are known.

Dr. Patrick Conway, the parish priest, told the Recorder that although architects have been instructed to prepare sketch plans for a replacement, an answer cannot be given until the financial situation is known.

“We are prepared to consider the best possible replacement for the benefit of the common good of the town, because it must be remembered that St. Patrick’s Hall served all denominations,” he said. “But if little money is forthcoming, the prospect of getting a replacement will be more difficult.

“It would not be prudent today to plunge a parish into great debt in view of the high interest rates which would be charged on the immense sum required.”

MINERSTOWN — More than 70 farmers formed a branch of the Ulster Farmers’ Action Group on Wednesday night and other branches are to be formed shortly in Ballynahinch and Strangford.

Addressing the meeting in the Minerstown Tavern, Mr. Gerry Fitzmaurice, a member of the Ulster executive, spelt out the problems suckled calf and beef producers were continuing to face and emphasised that support for the demands was mounting at a massive rate.

“We have plans for action along the lines we practised a couple of weeks ago, only next time the action will be extended until it hurts the whole community. We will ask the pug lid to understand our feelings and I am quite sure we will have their support,” he said.

Office-bearers appointed: chairman, Mr. Harry Starkey; secretary, Mr. John Doran; treasurer, Mr. Christie Carr. Committee: Messrs P. Smyth, P. Carr sen. P. Carr jun., P. Doran, J. Smyth, J. Byrne, A. and J. Reid, B. Venney, B. Lennon.

NEWCASTLE — Newcastle Old Tyme dance club — the informal dance club that has been running for more than 15 years — recently held their annual dinner dance in the Slieve Donard Hotel, during which they raised £100 for Combat Cancer.

Although its title may suggest the members are middle-aged, all such thoughts are dispelled by the secretary, Mr. Tony Dickinson, who told the Recorder that the club literally has members ranging from seven to seventy.

They meet once a fortnight on a Monday evening in the Annesley Hall, Newcastle, where they dance the night away from 9pm to midnight. According to Mr. Dickinson, everything is very informal and he stresses that people who cannot dance can come along and be taught by some of the more experienced members.

More than 60 people from in and around the area avail themselves of the opportunity to let their hair down once a fortnight. The club has certainly come a long way since its formation as a parochial club from St. John’s Church.

KILLYLEAGH — Killyleagh Parish Scouts have been among the honours recently with a leader receiving his warrant and two scouts training their Chief Scout’s award.

Mr. Will Dornan was the leader in question and he received his warrant from District Commissioner the Rev. W. E. Kennedy, while Maurice Bridges and Timothy Stevenson were presented with their awards by him. The Killyleagh troop itself has received the Achievement award for the second year in succession.

RAFFREY — A large congregation of friends and visiting ministers attended the installation of the Rev. R. T. Anderson in Raffrey Presbyterian Church.

The Moderator of Down Assembly, the Rev. C. W. McKinney conducted the service and the sermon was delivered by the Rev. W. N. Duncan, minister of Edengrove Presbyterian Church, Ballynahinch. The Rev. W. D. McBride, of Second Saintfield Presbyterian Church, gave the charge to the minister and congregation.

Mr. Robert Morrison, treasurer, expressed thanks to the Rev. R. J. Magee, of First Saintfield, who had been in charge of the vacancy since June and presented him with a gift in token of the congregation’s appreciation.

STRANGFORD — The dense fog, which enveloped the province on Monday night, caused the Strangford ferry to abandon its services for several hours. A number of passengers were stranded at both terminals.

BALLYNAHINCH — The death occurred recently of Mr. Joseph Hill, of Windmill Gardens, Ballynahinch. He was a life-long member of Ballynahinch Congregational Church. Until his retirement, he had been in the employment of the East Down Steamship Co. He was well known and respected by all who knew him.

KILLINCHY — Killinchy girl Christine Anderson has won the Department of Manpower Services prize at the end of the Department’s 18-weed catering course for students at Portrush.

DOWNPATRICK — Gravediggers in Down Parish churchyard in Downpatrick came close to getting a shock when less than two feet below the surface they unearthed the electricity mains linking with church with a nearby transformer.

The wires are not marked on the map of the churchyard, which dates back to 1890. When the diggers made their find, an alternative site was found for the grave.

BALLYCRAN — Ballycran, the Down and Ulster hurling champions, failed in their bid to reach the All-Irreland final at McKenna Park on Sunday when they were beaten by St. Finbarr’s from Cork in a thrilling game which was much closer than the 8-8 to 3-10 scoreline suggests.

Indeed, had the Down men’s defence been as alert in the opening half as they were in the second period, there could have been a different result to the game. By changing their style of play in the second half they out-hurled the famed Munster men at their own game of ground hurling and first-time pulling.

The Ballycran side are all heroes with Brian Gilmore, John Martin, Tom Brown, Martin and Cathal O’Flynn, Sean and Des Mullan, and Paddy and Jimmy Hughes the stars.