From the pages of the Down Recorder, September 27, 1977

From the pages of the Down Recorder, September 27, 1977

27 September 2017

BALLYNAHINCH — What makes a girl go in for a beauty contest? What does it take to win such a contest? What is going on behind the fixed smiles?

Measuring 36-24-36, with a lovely smile and long dark hair, Ballynahinch school teacher Karen Thompson is a natural beauty, with a warm, friendly personality to match.

As well as teaching needlework and English, 21 year-old Karen is also Miss Ulster Television and went on to represent the province in the Miss Great Britain contest.

The Miss Ulster Television contest was the first Karen even entered — and she only did so for a laugh!

“There was no catwalk or anything,” she said. “We just walked into a room where the judges were sitting and there was coffee and biscuits as we waited for the result.

“I don’t think I won the title just because of my appearance, rather on my personality.”

Karen received a prize of £30, a ten-glass bottle of liqueur, a year’s supply of Berkshire tights and a place in the Miss Great Britain contest.

DOWNPATRICK — Success is on the horizon for top Downpatrick group Janet and the Sunbeams, who have secured an audition for the top TV talent show, Opportunity Knocks.

All set to shine before the cameras are group members Janet Wilcox, Denise Carling, Stewart Wilcox, Charlie Mount and newcomers Paul Pleasants and Selwyn Wilcox.

For almost two-and-a-half years this young and talented group has been entertaining audiences in dance halls north and south the border and has gained increasing popularity.

Now a tour of Scotland has been set up for the New Year. For Janet and the Sunbeams it’s going to be a great Hogmanay.

CARRYDUFF — A Carryduff man who found a ‘Colarado-type’ beetle at the weekend has been shocked by the non-interest shown by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Brian Martin, of Upper Mealough Road, came upon the strange beetle on Sunday afternoon at the garage of his home. Although reporting it, the insect is still sitting in a jam jar at his Carryduff shop.

Brian explained that he informed the police about the beetle and was told that the Ministry of Agriculture would call out on Monday morning to see it. No-one has appeared from the Ministry yet — and that has annoyed Brian.

“Admittedly it might not be a Colorado beetle, but nevertheless they should have made some attempt to investigate it,” he said.

Colorado beetles can cause big damage in the countryside if let loose, but the chances of one getting into the province are slim.

DRUMAROAD — The Housing Executive has revealed that officials are investigating a case of alleged squatting at Drumaroad.

The Executive’s district manager, Mr Brendan Sharvin, was quizzed about the incident at a meeting of Down councillors on Thursday and said the matter had been referred to the Commissioner of Complaints. He regarded the affair as sub judice and did not want to talk about it, but he said that if squatting was established the Executive would seek a court order.

One councillor asked if it was true there had been squatting before in Drumaroad and nothing had been done about it. Mr Sharvin replied: “We acted in accordance with policy at the time.”

COMBER — A Comber minister doesn’t want the town’s new school to become the focal point of an “eyesore of hen houses” in which children are sentenced to discomfort.

The Rev S Wilson has asked the South Eastern Education and Library Board to consider enlarging plans for the new Andrews Memorial Primary School to provide what will be essential accommodation before the new school is open.

Mr Wilson asked the Board to refer the plans back to the finance committee so that future generations of children would not have to suffer being accommodated in temporary classrooms.

“If alterations have to be made at a later date they will be more expensive that they would be snow,” he said. “If they were made now we would not have the eyesore of hen houses around a new building on an attractive site.”

FOFANNY — Over £225,000 is to be allocated to local water schemes as part of the 1977-78 capital programme of the Southern Division Water Service. The largest investment will be in the Fofanny treatment works where an estimated £170,000 will be spent on an extension to increase treatment capacity.

A further £24,000 will be used to strengthen and improve the dam in the Fofanny Reservoir Safety Scheme. 

CASTLEWELLAN — The Annsborough-Castlewellan Combat Cancer group held a well-supported concert in St Malachy’s Secondary School, Castlewellan, on Friday night.

A star-studded programme featured two popular artistes, Candy Devine, the singer and radio personality, and Tom Raymond, the comedian.

A Dutch auction was incorporated in Candy’s act to help boost funds for the Ulster Cancer Foundation and she received a great deal of support.

Also appearing were Eamon McMullan and the Poachers, Olivia Savage, local Irish dancers Jack Smith and Jim Flanagan, and the Castlewellan Accordian Band.

BALLYHORNAN — Police in Ardglass are trying to trace the owner of a small boat which was found among the rocks at Ballyhornan beach on Tuesday. The boat was 11 feet long, painted blue and is of a wooden structure.

MAGHERAHAMLET — Four elders were ordained on Sunday when a commission of Down Presbytery met in Magherahamlet Presbyterian Church. They were John Harper Broome, James Carlisle, Robert Crothers and James Alexander McNeill.

The Moderator, the Rev James Harper, of Ballygowan, conducted the service, read the declaration and asked the prescribed questions. The clerk of the Presbytery, the Rev Walter Kerr, senior minister of First Boardmills, and the minister of Magherahamlet, the Rev C D Adams, also took part in the service.

DUNDRUM — Dundrum police would welcome any information to them in their inquiries into a spate of vandalism at the survey camps at Castle Hill over the past week.

ANNALONG— The Down Battalion Boys’ Brigade held their dedication service for officers and NCOs in Annalong Parish Hall last Sunday. Sixty officers and NCOs met in the church hall and prided to the church were the service was conducted by the Rev Matthews, the Battalion Chaplain.

After the service the officers were entertained to tea, provided by the ladies of the company, in the church hall. The president the Battalion, Mr David Partridge, proposed a vote of thanks to the ladies and the congregation.

GAA — History was made at Croke Park on Sunday when Down minor footballers, playing in only their second final, won the All-Ireland title for the first time by defeating Meath 2-6 to 0-4.

Despite the slippery and blustery conditions, it was an exciting game with Down the masters for most of the hour and well worth their success. It was like old times as these red-and-black-clad lads rose to the occasion and turned on the magic.

Urged on by the packed Canal End Armagh following, Down swept aside the Meath challenge with poise, grace and footballing brilliance that had the Blue-clad Hill 16 stunned into stony silence.

The speed with which Down threw the hall around was amazing. The tackling was crisp and decisive and the dedication of the boys to back each other up had the bigger, stronger and much heavier Meath side reeling under constant first half pressure.

Sean O’Neill had done a masterly job. A Cork man remarked Down were a professional outfit who knew how to put their game together. Yes, a very true comment.