From the pages of the Down Recorder, September 9, 1975

9 September 2015

BALLYNAHINCH — The streets of Ballynahinch were lined with people on Friday afternoon to pay their last respects to 25 year-old Brian McComb, the town’s popular motorcyclist who was killed instantly at the Manx Grand Prix last week.

As the funeral passed through the town on its way to Magheradroll Parish Churchyard, hundreds of mourners joined the procession to swell the numbers to close on one thousand. Many of the top motorcyclists from all over the UK travelled from the Isle of Man to attend the funeral and make it one of the largest ever seen in the area.

Brian, of Sunnyside, Belfast Road, had progressed into one of the top riders and had been favourite to win the 250cc race. He was an obliging and considerate person and had been held in great esteem by many people both in and out of the motorcycle world.

He took up road racing five years ago and during that short time had climbed almost to the top of his tree. In the practice laps on the Manx course he had lapped at over 90mph.

Widespread sympathy is extended to his father and mother, Bobby and Agnes, to his six year-old sister, Gillian, and the family circle.

COMBER — The courage of an 11 year-old Comber boy saved the life of a boy who fell off the pier at Bangor and got into extreme difficulty recently.

Mark White, son of Mr and Mrs John White, Glen Road, Comber, had been in a hired rowing boat by himself when he heard a splash from one of the piers. He noticed a boy’s head above the water and decided that he was in grave danger.

Mark pulled the young boy aboard and later found out he came from Bangor and had fallen in while fishing from the pier.

CASTLEWELLAN — Castlewellan people need not have any fears about the availability of water to deal with fires in the town, a senior Fire Authority officer assured Down Council at a special meeting last week.

Divisional Officer T H Gunning, who was in charge of fire operations during the outbreak which sparked off fears about water shortage several months ago, was giving a talk about fire prevention and safety in the home.

Councillor Seamus Fitzpatrick took the opportunity to quiz him about the Castlewellan problem. The people of the area were worried because there was no hydrant, Mr Fitzpatrick explained.

Mr Gunning told him of arrangements to take water from the nearby Castlewellan Forest Park lake and said that while a relay was being set up there, other engines could control a fire using water from their own tanks. Each fire engined carried 200 gallons of water.

DOWNPATRICK — A 19 year-old Downpatrick student was the toast of Queen’s University at the weekend when she won a medal at the Liffey Descent, a famous international canoe race organised by the Irish Canoe Union.

Eileen Kelly, of Dufferin Park, a second year student, took first place in the ladies’ open singles — a great feat considering it was her first attempt at the difficult course.

Eileen, a former pupil of Assumpton Grammar School, Ballynahinch, had qualified for the event by successfully completing the course in two recent long distance races. She had hoped to do quite well, but it was beyond her wildest dreams to become the fastest lady in her event.

The race, which was competed over 17.5 miles, began at Straffan in Co Kildare and finished at Islandbridge near Dublin. Altogether she encountered ten weirs, several difficult rapids and a 500-yard portage,

Eileen, who has always been interested in water sports and sub aqua activities, stressed the point that she did not capsize the slalom canoe at all, a fact that pleased her much. Next year she considering progressing to the K1 class and if she puts forward the same initiative she should have no bother in keeping her head above water.

BONECASTLE — The end of 135 years of education at Bonecastle Primary School, near Downpatrick, was marked at a presentation of gifts to the teacher, to the supervisory assistant and to the caretaker whose jobs ended in June.

While it was an evening of happiness, of complimentary speeches and of festivity, there was an unmistakeable feeling of sadness at the closure of another rural school and the absorption of its pupils into big urban academies.

It was an occasion organised by the parents’ committee, a group formed some months ago when talk of the school’s imminent closure spread around. This time they met simply to express their gratitude to Mrs Mary Press, the sole teacher for the past four years, to whom the 19 pupils said farewell at the end of the summer term.

The ceremony was more like a big family reunion than a meeting of parents. They met in the Ramble Inn, Ballykilbeg, home of a former pupil, Mrs Grant. There too were the Kingsfield Ramblers, a musical group consisting mostly of former pupils, who made a pleasing contribution to the happiness of the evening.

The presentation of a Waterford decanter and an inscribed silver salver to Mrs Press was made by Mr Brian Murray, committee chairman. In turn Mrs Press presented gifts to Mrs Agnes O’Hare supervisory assistant, and Mrs Veronica McKinney, the caretaker for 35 years.

CROSSGAR — The Crossgar Anglers and Wildfowlers Association held their annual meeting in the Minor Hall, Crossgar, recently when Lady Lowry was present.

Lady Lowry kindly drew the annual ballot for a colour television set and a stereo player. The first prize of the TV went to Mr D Heathwood, Ardmillan Crescent, Newtownards, and the second prize (stereo) went to Mr Desmond Orr, Killyleagh Street, Crossgar.

KILLOUGH — Mr Paul Button, a member of HM Coastguard, Killough, was taken to Downe Hospital on Monday morning after his Land Rover collided with a seven-ton lorry on the Strangford to Ardglass Road near Kilclief.

ARDGLASS — Enthusiastic sea anglers are hoping that Sunday afternoon’s weather will be kind for the big tournament to be held at Ardglass. The local angling association, who have been running a popular series of events this summer, hope this end of season event will be the start of much bigger things to be carried out next year.

One of the men behind the arrangements in Captain Roman Fitzsimons, the harbourmaster. He reported that trophies have been purchased by the Tourist Board, Guinness and the Lancashire Regiment and by many local people in the fishing industry.

RAFFREY — Raffrey flower show, which drew a very large crowd to the Martin Hall on Saturday, lived up to its very best traditions. Public interest in the splendid range of flowers, plants, fruit cakes and home produce was as intense as ever — as was the spirit of competition in 115 classes.

The guest of honour was Mrs Anderson, mother of the congregation’s minister, the Rev T Anderson, who presided. She spoke enthusiastically of the high standard of the exhibits.

NEWCASTLE — A considerable amount of stock, including cigarettes, confectionery and watches, were stolen from ‘Dan and Vi’s’ newsagents shop in Railway Street, Newcastle, on Monday night. Local police would welcome any information.

KILLYLEAGH — Killyleagh Camera Club recommenced their programme on Monday night when two films illustrating the manufacture of Minolta and Pentax cameras were shown. Members hope to have a dark room in operation shortly.

DRUMANESS — Drumaness cricketers retained their unbeaten league record thanks to two brilliant half centuries from George Gillespie and Ronan Hanna in their convincing victory over ICI by 74 runs at Carrickfergus. This was a great performance considering that Drumaness were short of four of their regular eleven.

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