From the pages of the Down Recorder, May 10, 1977

From the pages of the Down Recorder, May 10, 1977

10 May 2017

STRIKE — Carryduff, Comber and Saintfield became “havoc” towns when many local farmers brought traffic to a standstill with a tight tractor blockade. This new twist has added a different dimension to the United Unionist Action Council strike, now gathering momentum after ten days.

The strike, which has yet to hit hard, took an even bigger turn when all bus series were called off for a day as a mark of respect for a bus driver shot dead in Belfast. this left hundreds of schoolchildren stranded and many local schools reported big absenteeism.

The blockades also prevented many people getting to their work and hundreds of others were kept late, having to make big detours.

Police and army were in attendance in Carryduff, but maintained a low profile throughout. One Carryduff resident rang the Recorder bitterly complaining about the blockade,

He said Carryduff was an exceptionally good district, but that such action was giving them a bad name. He said the men obstructing the roads were “gentlemen farmers, men of property, men of substance, yet they were acting like cheap hoods.”

On the same theme, another irate caller said: “If these farmers were genuinely behind the strike, then their stock would be lying dead in the fields.”

There were reports of protesters being stoned by several bus-loads of Downpatrick men, who were en route to work.

An Ulster Farmers’ Union spokesman condemned the tractor blockades and stressed that the Union was in no way responsible for the disruption.

CASTLEWELLAN — In a shock threat the South Eastern Education and Library board has warned that the £86,000 scheme to convert Castlewellan’s Market House into a new library could be abandoned.

A spokesman said that unless the Board were given clear vacant possession by the end of the month, the purchase of the Market House would be cancelled.

“The whole project is on a knife-edge,” he said. “It is possible that the legal problems can be sorted out, but if not we are back to square one as far as providing a library in Castlewellan.”

DUNDRUM — Dundrum Sports Association has renewed its pledge to keep fighting for badly needed sports facilities in the town.

A report last week that they had abandoned hope of winning their 18-month battle with planners has been denied by the Association secretary, Mr Gerry McCormick, who said this week: “We will fight this to the bitter end.”

The news that Down Council is considering the provision of playing fields at a site between a hosing estate on the Dundrum Road and Moneylane has been welcomed by Mr McCormick, who congratulated the council’s recreation officer, Mr Bryan Coburn, on the speed with which the council acted.

Mr McCormick told the Recorder that the Association had suggested a number of sites around Dundrum to the council and he was pleased that action had started.

CROSSGAR — The Housing Executive are keeping their fingers crossed that a proposal to build 40 new houses in Crossgar will win the approval of the planning authorities.

They have applied to build houses on a site at Killyleagh Road and have submitted an outline plan to the Planning Office. In the past the Executive have applied to build houses in Crossgar, but have met with refusal from the planning authorities.

Investigations hav ebeen carried to on a number of sites in Crossgar, but ground conditions have been found generally unsuitable because of rocky sub-soil, a spokesman for the Executive said.

“We know there is a need for housing in Crossgar and we are fairly hopeful that this application will be successful,” he added.

DOWNPATRICK — Local motorists lost one of their most valued administrators when Miss Marcella Mitchell retired after 42 and a half years’ service. At the time of her retirement Miss Mitchell was the manageress of the motor tax office in Downpatrick, but most of her long life has been spent with the Roads Service.

Miss Mitchell holds the proud record of having missed only a week through illness during her long career.

As a mark of appreciation of her services, Miss Mitchell’s colleagues in the Roads Service presented her with a fine silver tea service and the staff of the motor tax office presented her with a silver cruet set.

CARRYDUFF — Builders are expected to begin work on a new old people’s home in Carryduff in three weeks’ time on site at Church Road which planners also hope will include a library, health centre and nursery school.

The home, which will be situated on a site adjacent to Carryduff Primary School, will be part two-storey, part one-storey. An estimated cost has not been released by the Department of Health and Social Services.

The home is expected to be completed by 1980, but it as yet uncertain when and if work will commence on the other proposed buildings.

SAINTFIELD — A Saintfield breeder is among the best in Ireland, judging from his success at the Royal Dublin Society’s Spring Show at Ballsbridge. Frank McCormick, of Brookdale Pony Stud, took first prizes in three classes for children’s ponies.

His 11 year-old grey, Lemington Happy Ending, was judged the best mare over three years, between 13.2 and 14 hands, with foal at foot. The colt foal also won a first prize and his other rosette was captured by Lemington Carmen as the best mare over three years and under 13.2 hands with foal at foot.

BALLYNAHINCH — The popular BBC programme, Gardeners Question Time, will be recorded at a meeting of Ballynahinch Gardening Club on Saturday night. The question and answer session will take placed in Ballynahinch Technical College and a large turn-out of members and friends in anticipated.

ARDGLASS — A gas cylinder, a vice and a large quantity of aluminium were stolen from the Regal Ballroom in Ardglass. Police would like to hear from anyone with information about the theft or from anyone who saw a blue Ford Escort van in the area at the time.

Police are also investigating the theft of five bathroom suites and a number of doors from BS  Supplies on the Downpatrick Road, Ardglass.

RAFFREY — Raffrey Girls’ Brigade held their 21st anniversary display. The chairman for the evening was the Rev R Trevor Anderson and the inspecting officer was Mrs W M Smyth. The varied programme included freework, sketches and skipping by the explorers, juniors, seniors, brigadiers, associates and past members.

The company’s captain, Mrs Dickson, received a silver rose bowl from the officers and girls for 21 years’ service. The officers were each presented with a silver scuttle and the past officers and girls each received a souvenir for the occasion.

MOURNES — The annual Mourne Wall Walk — the gruelling 22-mile test for hiking enthusiasts _ will take place this year on June 5. Entries are expected to be even better than last year’s total of of 1,268 starters.

This total can be compared with the 46 people who started the walk in its third year in 1958. The famous hike takes walkers from all over the British Isles across 22 miles of varying types of rugged countryside, ranging from hilly roads to the moors of the Mournes.

KILLLINCHY — Members of Killlinchy Young Farmers’ Club made a successful showing in the area heat of the dairy judging competition held recently on the farm of Mr David Heenan outside Newcastle. Killinchy were well represented at the event and managed to take four of the top places, entitling them to go forward to the Northern Ireland finals later this month.