From the pages of the Down Recorder, October 14, 1975

From the pages of the Down Recorder, October 14, 1975

14 October 2015

DOWNPATRICK — A Downpatrick youth club committee has called for decisive action to curb a growing drink problem among the town’s young people.

The committee refer to the problem as an “outbreak of savagery” and say it is now a common sight to see young people staggering home late at night.

A statement has been prepared by the disco committee of the Patrician Youth Club, who have studied the problem. Are we, by our apathy, they ask, laying the foundations of a future population of alcoholics?

The statement calls on the authorities, which have up to now been conspicuous by their inactivity, to try to arrest the problem by implementing plans for a complete overhaul of a very inadequate youth and social service in the area.

“For an area of its size, the youth facilities are atrocious,” says the committee. “What is the point of moralising to young people about drink if there are no alternatives to it as a past-time.”

The committee wonder whether the problem can be solved by parental co-operation and the setting up for parent associations, but they warn that such an association would have to take positive and progressive action against the buying and drinking of alcohol by minors.

“It is a very poor reflection on this town that drinking among minors has become not just a cause for slight concern, but a distinct problem. Decisive action must be taken.”

CASTLEWELLAN — A rifle, ammunition, an incendiary bomb and explosives were among items discovered by Army patrols in the Castlewellan area last week.

In the course of a routine search at Bunker’s Hill, a patrol found a .303 rifle and magazine and six rounds of ammunition, wrapped in polythene covers. They also found a partially prepared incendiary bomb and some literature in bomb-making.

Several days earlier, another patrol found 175 lbs of explosives at Fofanyreagh on the Hilltown Road. These had been wrapped in polythene bags placed behind a ditch and covered up by whins.

KILLOUGH — With builders facing the worst ever brick shortage to hit the province, a £2.5 million investment in clay brick making swings into full production this month at Killough. The former Killough Brickworks plant, now occupied by Structural Ceramics Ltd, will be producing half a million bricks each week.

A company spokesman said the new plant had been designed specifically to meet their requirements and was built to top European standards, ensuring a consistently high quality product equal to any in Europe.

The company has been able to move from virtually square one to full production at the 70-acre site in the space of six months. Advance tests have been carried out on their bricks and the results compare favourably with current Northern Ireland specifications.

The news will be welcome by many builders complaining bitterly of being unable to obtain supplies. Some builders have been going outside the province to get bricks.

KILCLIEF — The search is on in earnest for a site for Northern Ireland’s first nuclear power station and among a number under investigation is the Kilclief coast.

The proposed nuclear station will be sited near plentiful water supplies and NIES has been looking closely at sites on the Antrim and Down coasts, as well as the shores of Lough Neagh.

No decision has yet been reached about the site, but NIES is firmly committed to building a nuclear power station in Northern Ireland inside the next ten years.

KILLYLEAGH — Well friends, it’s your vote that counts. So send it off on a postcard to Opportunity Knocks, Thames Television, Teddington Lock, Middlesex.

Recognise the punchline? As one Killyleagh viewer found out, his vote definitely did count — it was the first one pulled out of the drum to receive the prize in Hughie Green’s popular Monday programme.

Now Sam Davidson, of Frederick Street, Killyleagh, will fly out to London on Sunday to meet Hughie Green and his host of stars as they prepare another edition of the programme. Afterwards Sam and his friend, Jarvis Magoran, of High Street, will be treated to a meal in the famous Rooftop Restaurant.

“I was given the choice of £10 in premium bonds or a chance to meet the stars — and it seemed a straightforward decision to me,” Sam said. A case of opportunity knocking and one that Sam could resist!

BALLYNAHINCH — Ballynahinch Past Pupils Union held their annual reunion dinner in the Millbrook Lodge Hotel. The president, Mrs Alice McGettigan, welcomed Fr P Smyth, PP, Sr Finbar, Mother Superior, Sr Jarlath, principal of Assumption Grammar School, and other guests.

The present pupils of Assumption Grammar School are presenting an opera in November and in the new year it is hoped that Dr Martin Walsh and Mr Frank Capper will present a musical evening.

NEWCASTLE — Newcastle’s by now famous anchor will go on show to the public after all. Down Council are to buy the piece of legend for the unlikely sum of £7.10 and it is expected to be exhibited at Central Promenade as soon as possible.

At the moment the anchor lies in the grounds of the town’s police station where it was brought from Dundrum Bay almost five months ago.

It is believed to belong to one of the world’s most famous ships, the SS Great Britain, which went around in 18436 and remained stuck in the bay for eleven months.

In May the anchor was caught up in a fishing boat’s net and eventually brought to Newcastle. Hopes of putting it on immediate display were dashed when it was impounded by the official receiver of wrecks. Now the receiver has offered it to Down Council and they have agreed to pay the £7.10 expenses.

COMBER — Comber man Ronnie Farr missed a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Shooting Federation European Championships in Jersey recently by four points.

Ronnie ended top with 180 points out of a possible 200 in the clay pigeon skeet event. In the same event another Comber man, Trevor West, finished in 12th place with 166 points. In the full bore rifle event, Stanley Gibson, another Comber man, finished in 15th place with 378 points out of a possible 405.

CARRYDUFF — A Carryduff lady was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital after a fire had broken out in the living room of her house on the Ballynahinch Road. Mrs Sarah Hamilton received burns to her legs and arms. Castlereagh firemen were in attendance and fortunately little damage was caused to the house.

BRYANSFORD —Considerable damage was caused to the Tollymore Mountain Centre on the Hilltown Road, Bryansford, after fire broke out in the drying room. Damage was confined to the stores and dying room area.

KILMORE — Harvest thanksgiving services were held in Kilmore Parish Church at the weekend when the preacher at the morning service was the Rev H B G Forde, rector, and in the evening the Rev W A McCourt, of St Patrick’s, Belfast.

Special music was rendered by the choir under the direction of the church organist, Miss Ruth Maude. At the evening service Mr Forde expressed thanks to the visiting preacher, choir, organist and ladies who had helped in the decoration of the church.

ARDGLASS — Ten new members were welcomed by the president, Miss Phil Wallace, at the October meeting of Ardglass Women’s Institute. The vice-president, Mrs T Clifford, gave a demonstration of cooking curry by a method used in India.

DRUMANESS — Drumaness Mills produced their first league success of the season when they visited Ashley Park, Dunmurry, and came away with a 3-2 victory over Harland & Wolff Rec. The Mills goal scorers were Damien Morgan and Joe Cullen (2).