From the pages of the Down Recorder, November 14, 1978

From the pages of the Down Recorder, November 14, 1978

14 November 2018

KILLYLEAGH — A massive redevelopment scheme to rebuild part of Killyleagh ran into unexpected opposition at a public meeting in the town on Monday night.

Townspeople poured cold water on the scheme, leaving Housing Executive officials to face a long, hard struggle before demolition work can begin.

Over 60 residents were shown details of plans to redevelop the area in and around Church Hill, Holland Place and Shore Street. Despite their objections, the Housing Executive look set to apply for a vesting order.

The main opposition came from disgruntled Shore Street residents who claim that, with the aid of rehabilitation grants, their homes could avoid the chop.

Some 103 new dwellings are to be built, providing accommodation for nearly 400 people in a variety of house types, both two and single storey.

The Housing Executive have guaranteed that any of the existing residents who want to move back to the site on which they are now living will be given first option on that house.

This means that all the 46 families in the area at present will be accommodated in a new house on, or very close to, their present location.

However, many residents were not convinced that the Housing Executive’s plans were what was really required.

Mr Marks, who owns a house in Shore Street, told officials that, at present, he has the luxury of a garage and garden at his home.

“If the property is vested I will have nothing at all,” he said. “No matter how well I am reimbursed there is still no way I can afford another house that would cost in the region of £20,000.

DOWNPATRICK — The headmaster of Down High School, Mr J E Buckley, has hit out at the “nonsense talk” surrounding many of today’s educational problems and stressed that “bright ideas” usually only help one pupil at the expense of another.

In his annual report to the school, he warned that there can be no universal solution to educational problems because methods which are effective with one child may oe completely ineffective with another.

Mr Buckley said that in Down High a “cautious attitude” had been adopted towards new methods.

NEWCASTLE — A unanimous decision to keep alive the efforts of Newcastle Town Committee was recorded at a specially reconvened public meeting last week.

A resounding vote of confidence was passed by over 50 residents and local business people who attended the meeting at the Slieve Donard Hotel in response to an appeal by the committee.

The future of the town committee was plunged into question at the annual meeting in September when only a handful of people bothered to attend.

In a do or die effort it was decided to hold a further meeting to ascertain whether the people of Newcastle felt the need to maintain a town committee or not.

Mr Bill Martin, past chairman, said the town committee had ben there driving force behind the upsurge in the development of the town and to let it die now would knock the resort back into the doldrums.

Mrs Hugh Davey felt that there were far too many committees in Newcastle, all striving towards the same end.

Mr Colman Hanna suggested the town committee could adopt the role of a co-ordinating group for all committees in the town.

Councillor Norman Bicker was of the opinion that the committee should seek a new image. “It would appear that the town committee is trying to do too much and perhaps be more profitably engaged in organising only three or four events,” he said.

Many local business people at the meeting said they had no hesitation in financing the committee’s efforts and would continue to support the activities in the future.

BALLYNAHINCH — A 20 year-old Ballynahinch girl whose Christmas Eve turned to tragedy when she was injured in an accident was awarded £35,000 damages in the High Court.

Veronica Lynn, of Windmill Gardens, was struck down by a car on her way to a dance and as a result she suffered severe head and leg injuries.

The court also heard that after the accident she was unconscious for three weeks and could not speak for another month.

CROSSGAR —Breadman Alec Holmes is looking forward to a well-deserved retirement at his Crossgar Road home.

With an army gratuity payment of £80, life savings of £120 and a £200 loan, Alec bought over the bread delivery round of Carsons, a Belfast-based firm, 31 years ago.

His route never changed over the years and each day he could be found doing the Crossgar, Shrigley, Killyleagh, Downpatrick, Dundrum, Annalong and Kilkeel run.

Over the years Aled has seen tremendous changes in the bread business. “Back in 1947 a loaf of bread cost four old pence and soda bread sold at a penny,” Alec said.

“My first week’s salary was the princely sum of £5 and, believe me, I wasn’t doing too badly. Petrol was one shilling and thruppence a gallon and it took quite a bit to keep the three-ton Austin on the road.

“Probably the biggest change came when loaves were wrapped for the first time. Before that I used to have a hot water tap in the front of my van so that I could wash my hands before handling the bread.”

BALLYGOWAN — Pupils at Alexander Dickson Memorial Primary School in Ballygowan should be getting cabbage with their dinner soon after a giant 20-pounder cabbage was given to the school.

The cabbage was brought to the school by one of their cooks, Mrs Carrie Stinson, and she hopes to use it to feed the pupils tomorrow.

The cabbage was grown at Lisnaskea, in Co Fermanagh, by Mrs Stinson’s father-in-law and she believes that it will be big enough to give everyone sufficient vegetable with their main course.

SEAFORDE — The brilliant Seaforde artist, Lydia de Burgh — who has had personal sittings with the Royal Family — begins an exhibition of her work in Downpatrick next week.

It’s an exhibition which is sure to attract massive public attention and will be one of the highlights of Down District Council’s autumn festival.

Ms de Burgh is a member of various distinguished bodies, including the Royal Ulster Academy, and has lived in Seaforde for many years, from where her work has received international recognition.

CHAPELTOWN — Thieves broke into Curran’s public house in Chapeltown on Friday, but escaped with little. The pool table was damaged and several other items were destroyed, but little was taken.

On the same night thieves attempted a break-in at Chapeltown Post Office. However, they were unable to gain entry.

ARDGLASS — A new organ is to be dedicated in memory of a former minister at Ardglass Presbyterian Church.

The organ is being presented to the church by Mrs Charlotte Dangerfield in memory of her father, the Very Rev Dr W J Lowe, at a special service on Sunday morning.

Mrs Dangerfield. who comes from Killough, is the youngest and only surviving member of Dr Lowe’s family.

Dr Lowe was born at Spa and had attended 1st Ballynahinch Presbyterian Church in his younger days. He graudated through the church until became Moderator of the General Assembly in 1922. He died in 1931 at the age of 78.

DERRYBOYE — Derryboye Daniel, a labrador retriever, has become an international field trial champion. The five year-old dog won its second open title at Colebrook estate in Fermanagh, thus qualifying for the British championship to be run in England next month.

Derryboye Daniel, bred and handled by Mrs Margaret Glossop impressed the judges in Fermanagh and added the top prize to the Irish field trial championship title won last year.

DRUMANESS — Border Cup holders Drumaness Mills won their way through to this year’s semi-finals by ousting league leaders H & Welders 1-0 in a tough and tense tie at Sydenham thanks to a penalty from player-manager Paul Gelston. The Mills now face POSC in the semi-finals.