From the pages of the Down Recorder, September 16, 1975

From the pages of the Down Recorder, September 16, 1975

16 September 2015

NEWCASTLE — Newcastle Youth Club are squatting in their Annesley Mansions premises and withholding rent from Down Council until they are guaranteed grant aid for the purposes of renovation. Now, however, the youth club leaders are to be asked to meet with the council to discuss the problem.

Councillors were told that the club had sent a letter to the council clerk, Mr Seamus Byrne, saying they were not willing to enter into a lease or discharge rent until they get their guarantee. They also heard that it took more than five months for the club to make up their minds not to sign they lease they had been offered.

The club have been tenants at the Annesley Mansions since the beginning of the year. At that time a lease had not been drawn up, but an undertaking was signed that a lease would be signed and rent paid if they were allowed into the property immediately.

When the lease was subsequently drafted and sent in May nothing more was heard until the beginning of this month.

ARDGLASS — Ardglass man Charles Mulhall’s application for an entertainment licence for his juke box was voted a hit by the ‘panel’ — Down Council — at their meeting on Monday.

The council has agreed to grant him a seven-day licence for the juke box if he complies with stipulations they have set down. The juke box must not operate after ten o’clock each evening and on Sunday from 2pm to 10pm.

The ‘panel’ did not vote unanimously. Some took the view that the council should consider refusing the licence. It was only recently that Mr Mulhall discovered that because of the juke box he needed a licence for his small amusement arcade.

DOWNPATRICK — The story of how three boys raised £30 for Downpatrick Special Care School might never have come to light had it not been for the school’s head teacher.

The three boys, 14 year-old Henry Robinson, of 5 Ardpatrick Avenue, Downpatrick, 12 year-old John Gordon, of 16 Ardpatrick Avenue, Downpatrick, and 12 year-old Danny Skeffington, of Killough Road, Downpatrick, did not seek any publicity for their plan.

It took a letter to the Recorder this week from the head teacher, Mrs Iris McBride, to bring to light the efforts the boys made. Only then did the three school friends tell of how they collected the money before handing it to Mrs McBride recently.

The three often compete against each other in racing around Ardpatrick Avenue. Then one night one of the three thought they should put their sweat to a better use and find sponsors to back them for a run over a longer distance with the money going to the school.

So the scene was set for their early August run around the Ardpatrick houses. The weather favoured them for the boys remembered that it had been raining heavily for a few days beforehand, but then eased to enable them to complete their task in light drizzle.

The three then set about the task of gathering their money in. Their sponsors, all from Ardpatrick Avenue, Vianstown Road and Stream Street, handed over their cash readily.

CASTLEWELLAN — The decision by planners to refuse permission to a Castlewellan man to convert his front room into a shop stirred up some trouble at Monday night’s meeting of Down Council.

Councillor Seamus Fitzpatrick said that the applicant, Mr William Valentine, of 12 Mill Hill, was trying to offer a service to the people of the area. He asked for the decision to be deferred and reconsidered. His colleagues backed him unanimously.

A planning official said the application had been refused because it was not in an area for shops.

CROSSGAR — A Crossgar machinist was awarded £11,250 agreed damages in the High Court for injuries received almost four years ago. John McCormick, of Westlands, received the award in an action against McCleery & L’Amie Ltd., Spinners and Dyers, Saintfield.

On December 9, 1971, Mr. McCormick received injuries to his right foot when it caught in the rollers of a picker machine. It was stated he switched the machine off, but a conveyor belt started moving again and drew his foot into the rollers.

KILLYLEAGH — Killyleagh Parish cub scout pack were officially declared the winners of this year’s Dora Baxter Challenge Flag competition at last Sunday’s conference held at the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle.

The competition, which is open to all packs in Co Down, is run on traditional pack lines and takes the form of a tape recording of the Grand Howl, an original prayer, a song sung by the pack, tunes by a cub scout band, a funny story and a special item. Castlewellan pack, under the leadership of Mary Ross, came third in the competition.

SAINTFIELD — Next stop Cruft’s! That was the message barked loud and clear by a Saintfield dog after she had chalked up another success at the open dog show organised by the Omagh and District Canine Club on Saturday.

Queen of the Firs, a Pyrenean Mountain dog, bred by Mr and Mrs Johnston, of Belfast Road, Saintfield, easily accounted for the Cleopatra Cup for the best Irish-bred Pyrenean pup.

She also had a big success in Nottingham in the Pyrenean Mountain Dog Club of Great Britain championship show. There she took second place in a puppy bitch class of 25 and qualified for a crack at Cruft’s next year.

Queen of Firs can be expected to do well at Cruft’s. Already in her short career, she has won four other cups and eleven first places - championship results indeed.

BALLYNAHINCH — Residents of Grove House in Ballynahinch held a successful coffee morning and sale during the Ballynahinch Festival Week. They wish to thank the community most sincerely for their generous support.

SEAFORDE — Miss Madge McBride was praised at the annual meeting of Seaforde Women’s Institute last Monday evening when it was learned that she had not missed one meeting during the ten years’ life of the institute.

The president, Mrs P Shaw, welcomed Mrs Cairns from Newcastle and Mrs Mansell and Mrs Ginn, who were to act as tellers. A vote of thanks to the visiting ladies for their kind and cheerful help was ably proposed by Mrs N Kirby and seconded by Mrs McCall.

ANNSBOROUGH — Castlewellan police received an anonymous phone call in the early hours of Monday morning stating that there was a bomb in the Annsborough Stores. Army and police checked the premises, but nothing was found.

SOCCER — Harry Clarke Cup holders Dundrum United, who fell in their opening Newcastle League game, reproduced their top form with a 3-2 over visiting Ardglass in an exciting clash.

The two evenly matched teams fought a ding-dong battle for supremacy. On reflection Dundrum just had the edge, though Ardglass were perhaps short of match practice.

HURLNG — Leitrim Fontenoys failed in their bid to win the Down Junior Hurling Championship when they went under by 3-6 to 3-2 to a good Ballyvarley side in the final at Atticall on Sunday.

In a game that was very entertaining and produced some good hurling, both sides gave of their best, but the better balanced Ballyvarley deserved their victory.

CRICKET — The curtain came down on another Downpatrick Trades Cricket League season with the KOB Cup final between Bell’s Hill and Craigduff at Downpatrick’s ground. After an interesting game Bell’s Hill came out on top by 19 runs.

Mr J McCready, league secretary, handed over the cup to  Wilbert Calvert, skipper of Bell’s Hill. All round appreciations were expressed to the premier club for the use of the ground and to the umpires, Alfie Linehan and George Lennon.