From the pages of the Down Recorder, October 2, 1973

From the pages of the Down Recorder, October 2, 1973

2 October 2013

NEWCASTLE — It was the end of an era for Newcastle Urban Council on Friday evening when members, officers, staff and friends attended a dinner to mark the council’s dissolution after 58 years. The chairman, Mr. A. P. Cairns recalled the history of the town. “To get a picture for the future,” he said, “it is necessary to look at Newcastle’s stages of progress and development.”

He reminded guests that Newcastle had the first switchback railway in Northern Ireland and remembered an occasion when 30 carriages of passengers left Downpatrick for a day trip to Newcastle.

Paying a special tribute to to his colleagues on the council, Mr. Cairns told of the good feelings and comradeship which had always prevailed at meetings and found it remarkable that despite many heated debates they had always left the chambers as good friends.”

Extending thanks to to the chief officers, he praised the work of the town clerk, Mr. Ian Watts, and the surveyor, Mr. T. R. Sambrook. He also extended thanks to members of the office and outdoor staffs whom he had always found pleasant and co-operative and wished them well in their new jobs.

“I would particularly like to thank the townspeople of Newcastle,” he said. “In eight successive elections they placed their confidence in me and I only hope that this was not misplaced.”

DOWNPATRICK — In 1923 Mrs. Augusta Pooler, with the assistance of Miss Ceuta Thompson, started the 1st Downpatrick Company of the Girl Guides and enrolled 26 girls. On Sunday last a large congregation of rangers, guides, brownies, scouts, cubs and friends joined in a service of thanksgiving in Down Cathedral.

On February 7, 1924, Dean Carmody dedicated the first company colour. The patrol leaders on that occasion were Lily Smith, Violet Thompson (now Violet Love), Anna Twamley (now Anna Kennedy), Lorna Gregory and Annie Stewart (now Annie Hamilton). It was indeed most inspiring to see the same five ladies parade the ‘old flag’ and request Dean Robert Kilpatrick to give it a place in the cathedral for all time.

The service was conducted by the minor canon, the Rev. G. S. Linney, and the Rev. J. C. Pedlow and the Rev. J. Radcliffe also took part. The lessons were read by Miss Mar Mitchell (a former guide captain) and guide Jennifer Johnston. The arrangements for the service were made by Miss Vera Smyth, president of the local association, and Mrs. Gerald Furey, chairman of the local association, along with committee members. Among the special guests was Mrs. J. A. Cockfield, deputy training adviser for Ulster.

BALLYNAHINCH — As 24 year-old Norman Patterson was preparing to go to bed on Sunday evening he was unknowingly standing above a lethal 50-100 lb. bomb. For Norman sleeps in a bedroom which juts over the entrance to a small alley where, less than six feet below him, a parked car was packed with explosives.

Just over an hour later Norman’s bed and all his possessions were blown through the roof as the bomb exploded. Luckily, a warning was given and he was able to get out of the building in good time. The bomb was left in a stolen car parked at the entrance to an alleyway between the White Horse Hotel and Mr. David Stuart’s radio and television repair shop.

Sunday’s dramatic events began when a passer-by noticed the car parked suspiciously. He raised the alarm to Mr. Kevin Poland, proprietor of the White Horse Hotel, who immediately telephoned police and warned the Stuart family, who live over their shop. Within minutes police had sealed off both ends of the street and evacuated all families in the area.

At approximately 10.30pm a warning was telephoned to the Castlewellan telephone exchange. This was less than an hour before the bomb exploded. The explosion shattered windows up and down both sides of the street and for many shop owners Monday morning’s work began with a massive cleaning-up operation.

Parts of the wrecked car were blown over a wide area, but miraculously no-one was injured. The car was taken from outside a hall in Dundrum.

STRANGFORD — A second Strangford ferry — which Down County Council believes is essential if the service is to remain dependable — could take as long as five years to go into commission if Ministry approval were given tomorrow. And by then it could easily cost £500,000 — five times as much as the present vessel.

This was the gloomy news given by the county surveyor, Mr. Joseph Kirk, yesterday. Mr. Kirk told councillors that an estimate given by Harland and Wolff six months ago was in the region of £300,000, but the shipyard was in no position to estimate when they would be able to begin work as they were extremely busy at the present time.

The news came on the eve of the present ferry’s fourth major overhaul since it began the seven-day week shuttle between Strangford and Portaferry four years ago. Since then it has worked 16-20 hour days non-stop with council maintenance crews working until 6am to keep it going.

In the last year — in spite of a very poor tourist season — the number of vehicles carried rose by over 22,000 to 138,313, and the number of passengers shot up by 37,500 to 329,547.

SAINTFIELD — Saintfield Parish Church’s new £16,000 hall was opened on Friday night — with an appeal to get it dirty soon. The plea came from Col. M. C. Perceval-Price, who said in his opening speech: “I would far rather see this hall getting soiled through constant use than see it spick and span because it was seldom used.”

The vicar, the Rev. Norman Woodrow, welcomed visitors from a wide area and outlined the programme of action which had resulted in the building of the new hall. “The people of the parish have responded very generously,” he said, “as well as many former parishioners and a great many other people.

Mr. Woodrow also thanked the builders, with whom they had a most happy association, and the sessions and committees of First and Second Saintfield Presbyterian churches for the use of their halls on several occasions. He urged his parishioners to make the fullest use of the hall.

KILLYLEAGH — Three boys of the Killyleagh Parish scout troop gained the Chief Scout’s award last Saturday. They are Tom Raybould, James Heron and William Bennett, who travelled to Coleraine where they received their certificates from the Chief Commissioner, Mr. W. M. Brenner.

KILLINCHY — The Killinchy Singers will give a recital of sacred music in Kilmood Church tonight. Margaret Johnston is the conductor and the accompanists are Norma Burrowes and Joan Nesbitt. The proceeds will be donated to the Downe Hospital cardiac unit.

CARROWCARLIN — Miss Mary Anne Crangle, who died at St. Leonard’s, Warrenpoint, last week, spent most of her 91 years at Carrowcarlin, Raholp, Downpatrick, and was well known in that area. Despite her advanced years, Mary Anne enjoyed excellent health and had a clear memory of eventsat the beginning of the century.

CROSSGAR — Members of Lissara Presbyterian Church PWA held a most successful coffee party and bring-and-buy sale in the church hall last Thursday evening when the cake, grocery and variety stalls were quickly cleared and a total of almost £120 raised. The proceeds will go to the missions.

SPA — Spa Young Farmers’ Club held its opening meeting of the season in the club hall when old and new members were welcomed by the club leader, Jim Prentice. Congratulations are expressed to two members who have recently become engaged, George Scott and Margaret Donnan.

The first meeting took the form of a beetle drive and the winners were Joan Morrow and Betty Young, with the booby prize going to David Carlisle.