From the pages of the Down Recorder, November 11, 1975

11 November 2015

STRANGFORD — Strangford’s second vehicle ferry will come into service this morning. It’s inauguration by Mr Don Concannon will mark the end to several years of argument with government ministers and departments over the need for a second drive-on drive-off vessel to maintain a reliable service.

Since 1969 a single ship designed for the then Down County Council has maintained a very reliable service, but problems always arose when it had to go to Belfast for its annual overhaul. For three weeks each year businessmen, farmers and workpeople in the peninsula felt cut off. They had to make road trips as long as 60 miles when the vehicle ferry was withdrawn.

At times like that passengers had to make the crossing in open motor-boats. Many dozens of Portaferry children travel to Downpatrick schools.

The introduction of the second vessel, bought for a bargain £43,000 in South Wales and since modified at Harland & Wolff, will be welcomed as the public assurance of a vehicle ferry operating throughout every day of the year.

Among those expected to be present today are Mr Enoch Powell, MP, Mr Jim Kilfedder, MP, Convention members and councillors from both sides of Strangford Lough.

CASTLEWELLAN — Police disturbed a bomb maker at work at Bunker’s Hill, Castlewellan, on Friday. As the police approached the man ran off and police did not manage to capture him.

An army ammunitions technical officer, who was called to the scene, later defused the 20lb device. Two two-way radios were also found at the scene.

Early on Monday afternoon a patrol uncovered a plastic bag containing two more two-way radios, a loaded revolver and 18 rounds of ammunition in St Malachy’s estate. It is believed the find on Monday was the result of a tip off.

ARDGLASS — Almost 100 fishing boats from Ardglass, Portavogie and Kilkeel put to sea yesterday morning, despite their dispute with buyers. A head-on clash between the two parties seemed likely late last night when the catches for the evening market were landed.

The fishermen say they will hold out for a minimum price of £5 for a nine-stone box of whiting and if this price is not reached the fish will not be sold. A meeting in Ardglass ended in deadlock when an agreement over the quantity offish to be landed and the minimum price could not be reached.

The fish war blew up at the weekend when the fishermen laid down terms which limited each boat to a catch of six boxes of whiting.

At the Monday evening market in Ardglass the buyers refused to bid for the boxes and none of the boxes was sold. A spokesman for the fishermen said that the minimum price of £5 per box was fixed in an effort to give boat owners a decent price.

NEWCASTLE — The Annesley Mansions lesiure complex at Newcastle is under “active consideration” and Down Council will hear the up to date position on the scheme at a meeting next week.

Mr Bryan Coburn, the council’s tourist and recreation officer, and members of the council’s recreation committee have met with officials from the Department of the Commerce and the Tourist Board to discuss the project.

With the recent cutbacks in local government spending and the news that Downpatrick is to get its own sports complex there were fears that the seaside town would have to do without a centre.

It seems that the Department and the Tourist Board may back the scheme as a tourist attraction for the resort.

BALLYNAHINCH — An old-established Ballynahinch motor firm has become the centre piece of a new and expanding business which is going to great lengths in establishing a solid relationship with its customers.

The story revolves around the takeover of Mr Sam Ferguson’s business at Dromore Street by Montalto Motors, a use car sales firm set up nearly 18 months ago by Mr Ken Dixon.

Very shortly a new brand will arrive at Montalto Motors. It will be the Polish-built Fiat, Polski, the counterpart of the Russian-built Fiat, Lada. A four-door saloon, it is expected to sell at less than the price of a Mini 1000.

CROSSGAR — Damage of more than £150 was caused to a car in Crossgar in the early hours of Saturday morning when vandals threw a large stone on to the roof and smashed the windscreen.

A large shop window at WJ Whyte’s shop in Killyleagh Street in the town was also smashed the same night. Four youths are being interviewed by the police about the incidents.

The owner of the car took his car to Portaferry on Saturday morning to get it repaired. He had to borrow a friend’s car this week.

Reports of two other cars in the town being damaged at the same time and reports of street signs at Kilmore being vandalised were not confirmed by police.

Saturday morning’s incidents are the latest in spate of vandalism that has swept the area.

DOWNPATRICK — The annual meeting of the La Salle Union, Downpatrick — the association of past pupils of St Patrick’s High School — was held in Denvir’s Hotel. Union president Ray McConville thanked staff and past pupils of the school for their attendance and gave an account of the Union during the past year.

Rev Bro Stephen, principal of St Patrick’s High School, said the Union had shown a continuing close interest in both school and student welfare. “Our gratitude is best expressed in the fact that I can report to you that your old school is alive and well, changing certainly, developing certainly, but striving to hold on to the fundamental principles and values of its earlier years.”

The election of officers took place and the following people were elected: chairman, Mr Seamus Byrne; secretary, Mr Denis Cahill; treasurer, Mr Martin Laverty. Committee: Messrs A Colgan, B Deeny, M Denvir, J Fitzsimons, R McConville, M B McGrady, O O’Connor and C Teggart.

KILLINCHY — Detective Sergeant J Duff, of the RUC Drug Squad, was the guest speaker at the November meeting of Killinchy Women’s Institute. Sergeant Duff gave an insight into the different kinds of drugs, particularly the dangers involved when misused.

CLOUGH — Twenty one year-old Clough girl June Magorrian has recently returned from London where she was successful in gaining the preliminary award in hair designing from the Morris School of Hair Design. Joy, of 11 Church Grove, had been working for a Belfast hairdressing salon, but has since taken up an appointment in Carryduff. She is a former pupil of St Colman’s Secondary School in Ballynahinch.

DUNDRUM — Motorists who make a habit of parking on double yellow lines in Dundrum had better take care because local police intend to take action. It’s a constant problem for the police, particularly at weekends when they consider it dangerous.

MAYOBRIDGE — The tragic death of Eugene Sands has removed from the Irish musical scene – and the Co Down musical scene in particular — one of her most popular and talented artistes. Eugene, lead instrumentalist with the Sands family folk group, was killed in a car crash in West Germany.

The Mayobridge group, which had been touring there, had a night off and Eugene was motoring with a German companion when the car was in collision with a lorry near the city of Bremen. Both died in the crash.

GAA — Down retained their unbeaten run in Division 2 of the National League with a merited 1-9 to 1-7 win over Fermanagh at Irvinestown. In a game that produced patches of good football, Down won mainly through the individual scoring efforts of team captain Peter Rooney, who finished with a goal and six points. The other scorers were Willie Walsh (0-2) and Colm McAlarney (0-1).

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