From the pages of the Down Recorder, May 7, 1974

From the pages of the Down Recorder, May 7, 1974

7 May 2014

DOWNPATRICK — An unofficial strike by dye-house staff at the Downpatrick candlewick factory of Grayson Fabrics in support of a £6 a week pay increase could put more than 70 people out of work if it continues.

The nine men who operate two 12-hour shifts walked out on Monday when the management refused to meet their claim. The course of events in the immediate future will depend on whether or not the Transport and General Workers’ Union will give official backing to the strike.

the strike comes at a time when the factory is enjoying an out of season boom. Normally at this time of year the dye-house works eight or ten hour shifts. Just now order books are fairly full and in addition to 12-hour shifts there is Saturday and Sunday working at double-time rates.

Mr. F. Frew, shop steward, complains that dye-house conditions are most unattractive. “The atmosphere is stuffy visibility is virtually nil at times and we have to wear rubber boots and gloves,” he said. “But we could endure the conditions if we got a decent wage.”

Mr. Ivan Marshall manager, said the company had gone as far as it could. “The basic pay is £23.15 for a 40-hour week, but as they keep machines going through lunch and tea breaks we pay them 43-and-three-quarter hours, which makes the basic £25.50. Neither the men nor the union disputes this.

“In January we gave them an increase of 11.77 per cent, which includes night shift bonus. With overtime they earn more than £40 a week.”

Nothing further can be done until the union makes its decision on backing. If the stroke goes on and deliveries fall behind there are fears that valuable export repeat orders may be cancelled.

NEWCASTLE — An acting principal is to be appointed to succeed Mr. Cecil Baxter, principal of Newcastle Technical College, who is due to retire this summer. For some time there have been fears that Newcastle area might be absorbed into the Downpatrick area, fears which are also shared in Ballynahinch, where an acting principal has been in charge of the college for a few years.

The South Eastern Education and Library Board’s finance and development committee considered the situation at length last week.

DUNDRUM — Murlough House, Dundrum, for more than a century the summer residence of the Downshire family, is to be acquired by Queen’s University in a deal arranged by the National Trust, who have taken over the grounds and sand dunes.

Murlough House was built in 1856 as a summer residence for the Downshires, whose seat was in Hillsborough. Delighted situated above Dundrum Bay, it was expensively and soundly constructed of sandstone and is in excellent condition.

During the war it was used as army accommodation, but was extensively redecorated and furnished by the Marquis and Marchioness after their marriage. They lived at Murlough for little more than ten years before moving to England.

When the Church of Ireland took over the residence as a conference centre, the family reserved use of it for two months in the summer, but in recent years they have not been coming over. They now live at Burwash, Sussex.

CROSSGAR — As travel chaos continues to cut down attendances at rural schools, a Crossgar schoolmaster has hit out at apathetic parents not bothering to get their children to classes, especially at examination time.

Mr. C. Hanna, principal of St. Colmcille’s Secondary School, where at one time only 50 of the 320 pupils turned up, said nobody seemed to be concerned about the situation.

Many of his pupils had not appeared at all since the Easter holidays and he said not all of them lived so far away that they could not have made an effort to attend.

“I cannot understand the apathetic attitude of so many parents,” he said. “Some of the children live less than four miles away. And you wouldn’t think there wasn’t a bicycle in the country.”

STRANGFORD — Eleven year-old William McCormick realised his biggest ambition when he watched this week’s edition of the Down Recorder roll off the presses. It all started for William a week ago when our editorial department received a photograph of Downpatrick fire fighters in action at a blaze near his home on the Strangford-Ballyhornan Road. They were, of course, sent to us by William.

The photographs were of remarkably good quality and so a Recorder reporter visited William at his home this week. He told us that he wanted to be a newspaper photographer and his burning ambition was to look behind the scenes of a Recorder publication.

Yesterday his wish came true. As the final touches were put to the paper in our Downpatrick offices, William watched the ‘Recorder’ take shape. After watching the presses he returned home late last night, a tired but happy wanderer.

CLOUGH — First Clough Brownies and Guides held their annual parents night in Crossgar Presbyterian Minor Hall. A large number of parents and friends were present, including many of the past members and friends of Guiding.

After a welcome to all present from Miss Marjorie Robinson, leader of the pack and company, the Brownie and Guide choir opened the evening with choruses. This was followed by a Brownie and Guide enrolment when Sylvia Jennings was enrolled as a Brownie and Davina and Helen Blakely and Helen Robinson were enrolled as Guides.

Mrs. J. A. Cockfield, training advisor for Ulster, proposed a vote of thanks to Mrs. T. Moreland and parents for providing the lovely supper and to the leaders for carrying on the work of Guiding in Clough.

ANNALONG — A badly decomposed body, believed to be of a man, was washed ashore at a beach near Annalong on Sunday. It has not been identified as yet, but examinations are being carried out. The body is thought to have been in the water for a year or more.

BALLYNAHINCH — Mrs. Marion Robb had a lucky escape from serious injury when her car was in collision with a lorry near her home at Broomhill Road, Ballymacarn South, Ballynahinch. Her car was extensively damaged. The lorry, owned by the East Down Homing Pigeon Societies Combine, was being driven by Mr. Patrick Cunningham, of Dundrum.

KILLINCHY — The house-to-house collection organised by the Downpatrick and district committee of the Cancer Research Campaign in Killinchy has realised £138.30, nearly £20 more than last year’s figure. The committee wish to thank all who collected and contributed so generously and are gratified by the increasing interest being taken in such a worthy cause.

RAFFREY — A packed house attended the ‘Friends and Neighbours’ night organised by the Christian Endeavour at Raffrey Presbyterian Church on Friday night. Kathleen Fairbairn, as chairman, introduced a varied programme including sketches from the kindergarten junior and junior high groups.

TOLLYMORE — Tollymore Forest Park was the scene of a sponsored walk on Saturday when members and friends of the Dunmore Silver Band trampled a total of 15 miles in aid of band funds. Everyone completed the course, the times ranging between four and five and a half hours. At the halfway stage a group of ladies provided refreshments.

KILLOUGH — The chairman of the Downpatrick branch of the Royal Air Force Association will be the delegate at the Association’s annual conference in Eastbourne on May 17-19. He is Mr. Edward Nelson, of Palatine House, The Square, Killough.

KILLYLEAGH — the 19th annual display of Killyleagh Girls’ Brigade was held in the Cooke Memorial Hall, Killyleagh, at the weekend. The company chaplain, the Rev. J. Harper, was chairman, and opening devotions were conducted by Rev. J. C. Boggs.