From the pages of the Down Recorder, November 1, 1977

From the pages of the Down Recorder, November 1, 1977

1 November 2017

MOURNES — The men of the Mourne Rescue Team fought fierce storms and rain for three hours in a dramatic Sunday morning bid to save the life of a young Carryduff boy trapped up Slieve Beg.

Sixteen year-old Michael Crawford, part of a nine-boy squad from Instonians in Belfast spending three days in the Mournes to win their Duke of Edinburgh Silver awards, was marooned 1,000 feet up Slieve Beg in a flimsy tent and was suffering from exposure.

The boys had left Kane’s farm on Sunday morning to walk along the Brandy Pad to Bloody Bridge in spite of fierce weather. After reaching Slieve Beg on the Brandy Pad young Michael had collapsed from exhaustion and exposure.

Four exhausted schoolboys later staggered in to Newcastle police station to tell of the plight of their  pal. Within minutes of receiving a telephone call from the police station, Willie Holmes and 15 volunteer climbers set out to rescue Michael.

With a Force 8 gale raging and heavy rain lashing their faces, an advance group of four climbers forged ahead for three miles until they reached Michael and got something warm into him.

“We put him on a stretcher and waited for the rest of the team to arrive,” Mr Holmes said. “He was then transported by stretcher along the Brandy Pad to the wanting Mountain Rescue vehicles. Then he was taken to Kane’s farm, loaded into an ambulance and taken to Downe Hospital.

“We had only three miles to cover, but it seemed like 20. The weather was vicious. I haven’t seen conditions as bad in a long while.”

Once everyone was down safely the rescuers and the remainder of the boys were driven to Newcastle police station where they were given a hot meal. Young Michael’s father, who splashed out two bottles of whisky for the brave rescuers, praised the efforts of the team in saving his son.

ST JOHN’S POINT — A macabre find in the ruins of the old church at St John’s Point could provide archaeologists with the key to secrets which have been there for a thousand years.

What the scientists are studying are hundreds of old bones found in a hidden tomb under one of the church walls. Included in the discovery were several complete skeletons which have been taken away for examination.

Archaeologist Nick Brannon, who is excavating the area, said: “Although the church dates back to around the tenth century, it was probably still used for burying strangers or unbaptised infants long after it was deconsecrated and so many of the bodies we have could be fairly recent.”

WHITEROCK — An Army rescue helicopter was a very welcome sight for two brothers, who were forced to spend Saturday night on a windswept island in Strangford Lough.

The alarm was first raised when Kenneth and James Ginn, both in their twenties, failed to return home from a wildfowling expedition on the lough. Their anxious father went to Whiterock, where he found his sons’ car and a dinghy moored in the water. Immediately realising that something was wrong, he alerted the coastguard and a search by boat was begun.

It was not until daybreak on Sunday morning, after an army helicopter had joined the search, that the two men were spotted The helicopter rescued the two men, cold, wet and tired, but otherwise unharmed.

Kenneth said strong seas and gale forced winds had forced him and his brother to seek shelter on the island. However, they approached the island on the wrong side and the engine of their boat stalled.

They were forced to struggle ashore waist deep through the waves dragging their heavy boat. Luckily they were able to bring cooking utensils and food from the boat and were suitably dressed to resist wind and rain. They built a small fire and huddled around it throughout the hours of darkness until the helicopter came into view.

COMBER — A Sunday newspaper article on a tumbledown house in the centre of Comber, which had been labelled a “sin centre”, must have pricked someone’s conscience. Early on Monday morning the owners of the derelict ruin arrived in Comber, demolished the house — and promptly disappeared again.

Although their action is shrouded in mystery, it has brought a warm welcome from local people who complained that the house has been used for teenage drinking and sex parties.

Comber councillor Hamilton McKeag said that the demolition of the house would be a relief to the town.

“It will particularly please the people who live nearby who were plagued with the late night parties,” he said. “It isn’t unusual to see youngsters coming out of the building at four in the morning.”

DOWNPATRICK — Householders in Downpatrick’s Kennedy Square estate aren’t looking forward to the winter — and it isn’t only the cold they’re worried about. The particular problem which faces them is the trails of mucky footprints and dirty clothes which they know the winter is about to bring.

The reason for them having so much dirt is a piece of waste ground at the end of there row of houses. For years residents have been trying to have the ground cemented over in an attempt to prevent their children playing in puddles which form there in wet weather.

One of the residents, Mr Edward Curran, said: “The place is an eyesore. You just can’t keep the children out of the puddles and they come running into the house with dirty feet and leave trails of dirt over the carpet.”

BALLYNAHINCH — The acting principal of a Ballynahinch school has described the examination results of his pupils as magnificent and says they have set a very high standard indeed.

At the recent presentation of certificates to students in St Colman’s High School, Mr Kane, the acting principal, said he was delighted with the 1977 exam performance by the pupils.

He said: “All the pupils expressed a willingness to pursue their education and their achievements have come about as a result of hard work, dedication and understanding.”

PORTAFERRY — The Rev Ruth Patterson, from Portaferry, the only female minister in the Presbyterian Church, has written another chapter into the history books by getting a church of her own.

Miss Patterson is the daughter of the Presbyterian Moderator, Dr Tom Patterson, and a call was made to her on Monday night by the Kilmakee congregation in Seymour Hill, Dunmurry.

Miss Patterson said: “I am very pleased, not only for myself, but for the cause of women. I knew some congregation would be brave enough to call a woman and I am delighted for the church at large.”

KILLYLEAGH — A sponsored safety quiz amongst girl pupils at Killyleagh High School has raised £400 for Dr Barnardos. The cheque was presented by head girl Angela Spratt in a ceremony on Friday morning.

About 120 girls took part in the quiz, which lasted almost three weeks. Each girl was given 20 safety questions set out by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, accompanied by a sponsor form. They had to get as many sponsors as possible and answer as many questions as possible to raise the money.

CASTLEWELLAN — A Castlewellan hodsman, who lost the sight of an eye after a car accident, has been awarded damages of £10,000 in the High Court. Mr Hugh Steel, of Ballywillwill, was a passenger in a car which was involved in an accident on the Lisburn-Ballynahinch Road in December 1974.

BALLYHOSSETT — A 34 year-old man is seriously injured in Downe Hospital after a shooting accident at a wildfowling expedition at Ballyhossett, near Ardglass. The man, from Lisburn, was injured when his shotgun went off, wounding him in the chest.