From the pages of the Down Recorder, November 4, 1975

4 November 2015

DOWNPATRICK — The racing career of a highly successful greyhound is thought to be over after it allegedly stepped into a trap in a lane near St Mary’s High School in Downpatrick.

The dog, Crown Allette, which had spent only a week in Northern Ireland, had been very successful in race meetings in England, coming first in 36 races, and is valued at £1,000.

“As far as the dog is concerned, it’s racing career is finished,” Mr Terence O’Connor said. “The damage to the tendons in its back legs is far too severe to hope for a 100 per cent recovery.”

Mr O’Connor, of Glebetown Drive, Downpatrick, described the trap as being equipped with three razor blades and an iron bar. Police returned to the scene with Mr O’Connor, but were unable to find the trap. The dog had been brought to Northern Ireland for breeding purposes.

“Crown Allette had at least another four years of racing ahead of her and this injury has cost me a considerable sum of money,” Mr O’Connor said. “Since the dog fell into the trap, which was hidden in a hedge, it has lost over 15lbs in weight. I have written to the RSPCA about the incident.”

BALLYNAHINCH — It now seems almost certain that action will be taken on the Ballynahinch “death trap’ — the Lisburn Road approach to the town centre which has claimed one victim and injured many more.

Local police have checked out the opinions of residents in the area and it is expected that double yellow lines will be introduced on the outward lane of Lisburn Street.

SAINTFIELD — Vandals in Saintfield may well force the permanent closure of the town’s public toilets. Several months ago Down Council had to foot a bill for £450 after considerable damage was caused there and this week they agreed to pay £95 to cover further damage.

However, the council’s technical services committee recommended that repairs be carried out for the last time. Although the recommendation was not accepted it was evident that some councillors were pretty fed up with the situation and it may well be that the matter will be brought up again.

Saintfield councillor, Mr William Finlay, said the public should be aware that if vandalism continued the council were not prepared to maintain the toilets. The council chairman, Mr Edward McVeigh, said a line would have to be drawn somewhere. The council could not go on paying for the damage.

KILCLIEF — Mr Roland Moyle, the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, visited Glebe House, Kilclief, as part of his plans to see all the youth projects in Northern Ireland.

Harmony Trust have recently acquired the old rambling house and they hope, within a year, to turn it into one of the finest centres for young people in the province. They hope it will become a recreational centre, an adventure centre and a meeting place that will give youngsters a glimpse of another kind of life away from the turbulence of the city.

At the house, which is set in 16 acres of its own land, Mr Moyle was met by the house wardens, Mr Edwin Greer and Miss Helen Honeyman, who have been appointed by the Trust to take charge of the running of the house.

CASTLEWELLAN — Morning assemblies at Castlewellan Secondary School will be more majestic in future — for the school have bought Seaforde Parish Church’s former organ.

At the present time the organ is undergoing reassembly with boys in the school’s woodwork department playing a major part in the reconstruction. The organ was in a bad shape when the school decided to buy it, but they hope to have it in operation within the very near future.

Apart from its role at assemblies the children will have an opportunity to learn the rudiments of organ playing. Many of the children at the school play piano and a considerable number of them may want to try a different keyboard instrument.

One thing is for certain. Any prospective organ pupil will have no shortage of tuition — there are three church organists on the school’s staff.

NEWCASTLE — The Shimna River, Newcastle, has been yielding some fine salmon throughout the season, the latest being a 17lb 30z fish, 38 inches in length. It was taken by Nicholas McCavery, of Dundrum, who scored with a worm and landed the fish after a 40-minute battle on a 10lb breaking strain line.

STRANGFORD LOUGH — Portavogie lifeboat was launched and a warship stood by as a yacht with a three man crew was swept out to sea just after mid-day on Sunday. The drama started when the coastguard station at Bangor received a 999 call reporting the sighting of a red flare and orange smoke at the mouth of Strangford Lough.

Adverse conditions and an ebbing tide made likelihood of the craft being swept away. Helicopter assistance was called but not obtained due to an injury to the pilot. Coastguard mobiles from Portavogie and Ardglass were dispatched as the yacht was swept clear of the Bar mouth and started to move from Ballyquintin Point.

The lifeboat was launched while the mine sweeper and the Coastguard kept surveillance. The yacht and its crew was later towed into Portaferry. It is thought two ambulances from each side of the lough were in attendance.

KILLINCHY — A firm which is operating from a converted farmhouse near Killinchy may soon be moving to Downpatrick. Applications have been made to the Department of Manpower Services for a site in the area. Negotiations are at present under way.

The firm, Graphonics Ltd, which makes audio-visual equipment for schools, is hoping to expand in the near future by moving into the Great Britain market. At present the firm is working on full order books. Conditions in the present factory are cramped, but depending on their success in

ARDGLASS — A blood transfusion unit will be visiting St Nicholas’ Primary School, Ardglass, next Tuesday. The afternoon session will last from 2pm until 4.30pm and the evening session will be from 6pm to 8pm.

The Blood Transfusion Service needs the support of its existing donors and also many new donors. Any normal, healthy person aged between 18 and 65 can give blood. It is both painless and harmless and takes only 30 minutes of your time, yet it may mean a whole lifetime to someone whose life is in danger.

KILLYLEAGH — Killyleagh Castle will be visited in the BBC1 programme Big House next Wednesday morning. The programme goes out mainly to schoolchildren.

It illustrates some of the most important styles of domestic architecture in Ulster in town and country — the big houses of the rural landlords and the more modest but impressive houses of the Belfast middle class of the 19th century.

STRANGFORD — A young bullock, owned by John McMullan, of Drumroe Road, Ballyculter, was killed instantly when it was struck by a Toyota car on the Shore Road, Strangford. The car was extensively damaged, but the driver and his passengers were uninjured.

SPA — Brian Collins and Larry Hanna, the two Spa Golf Club members who played their way through seven rounds to reach the last 16 of the Daily Mail Amateur Foursomes, were defeated in the finals played at Formby, Lancashire, last weekend.

Brian, with a six handicap, and Larry, with a nine handicap, were defeated 6 and 5 by Yorkshire pair William Buchan and John Priestman. Mr Edward Atherton, captain of Formby Golf Club, presented the Spa golfers with prizes of cut glass.

NEWTOWNARDS — Downtown Radio, Northern Ireland’s local independent radio station, broadcasting from Kiltonga, Newtownards, hopes to be on the air by St Patrick’s Day next year.

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