Lisburn News

Binman is hailed as fire hero

APRIL 1969 saw a binman congratulated on the quick thinking that saved a home from extensive fire damage in Lisburn.

After seeing smoke emerging from the front door of the property the man checked there was no one on the premises, secured the doors and pulled a blazing primus stove through a broken window.

Colleagues helped him extinguish the stove, which turned out to be the source of ignition, by throwing buckets of water on the flames. Some minor damage was caused to the working kitchen and curtains but extensive damage was avoided. After his heroic actions the binman shrugged off praise, loaded up his lorry and finished his rounds.

Teacher set for visit to Australia

A young music and domestic science teacher from Ballyclare County Secondary School was given the chance of a lifetime in April 1972 when she set off for South Australia to study the work of rural youth organisations and general food production.

A member of Lylehill young Farmers' Club she was joined by five other UK farmers who sailed to Australia in the P&O ship 'Oraina'.

They were the winners of the 1972 P&O 'Canberra' Award and got the opportunity to live with farming families in New South Wales and South Australia in order to experience a new way of life and bring some of the lessons back home.

PAST TIMES

Looking back at news from Lisburn's past

Pupils from Princess Gardens school before setting off on a continental tour in April 1969. They were pictured before boarding the Heysham boat on the first leg of their journey

Lack of parking a threat to Lisburn

TRAFFIC congestion and car parking were described as 'a threat to the commercial life of Lisburn' in April 1969.

The traffic sub-committee of the Chamber of Commerce claimed i the problem was to some extent aggravated by the almost complete lack of common sense of the motoring public. It also cited the inability of the police to enforce the traffic regulations due to a manpower shortage making a resolution in the near future unlikely.

Lisburn's shopping public were asked for their opinions on the issue of parking, with required times varying between five minutes and three hours. Those doing weekly shops were prepared to park further out of town and return later in the day to for a short period to collect heavier items.

However a lack of available short term parking posed a real problem for businesses in Lisburn as people who could not park for a brief period preferred to go elsewhere to shop, making a proposed new shopping centre in Dunmurry a direct threat to the town. Proposals where made to move all long term parking away from the town centre and impose a £2 fine for exceeding parking time.

Drumbo PS pupils get presidential approval

MARCH 1999 saw a very special letter arrive on the doormat of Drumbo Primary School - from the President of the United States.

There was a chance to pick up some Springtme Savers at the old Co-op Store in Castle Street (now the site of the South Eastern Regional College.

The pupils had been learning the art of letter writing as part of their English lessons and just before Christmas 1998 they were asked to select a public figure they would like to contact.

The ambitious pupils from the primary seven class chose US President Bill Clinton, as he had recently visited Northern Ireland and shown a considerable interest in the development of the peace process.

After receiving the go ahead from the school principal the students set about composing their letters to the most powerful man in the world.

The letters contained the pupils' feelings on the peace process and how they hoped it would develop as they grew up. They also thanked President Clinton for showing so much interest in Northern Ireland and invited him back for another visit, hoping he would stop by the school while he was here.

There was disappointment that Lisburn's long awaited swimming pool would not be ready for January 1970 as planned because of a problem with the roof. And the town got a pasting from the Ulster Architectural Society as 'ugly, untidy and shoddy' with traffic 'en-snarling' the area and development on the outskirts at the expense of the town centre

Before sending the letters on to Washington DC teachers explained to the children that the President was a very busy man who received letters from all over the world and it was likely he wouldn't have time to reply to them.

However the students' efforts were rewarded when an envelope with the White House seal arrived containing a letter signed by the President himself.

The short letter thanked the children for taking the time to share their thoughts with the President and talked about his commitment to creating a brighter future for young people of all nations.

The much prized letter was the talk of the school and was framed almost immediately.

The Principal of Drumbo Primary spoke about the children's excitement saying: "I think it has made them believe they can write to anyone and get a reply back,"

There was a chance to pick up some Springtme Savers at the old Co-op Store in Castle Street (now the site of the South Eastern Regional College.
There was disappointment that Lisburn's long awaited swimming pool would not be ready for January 1970 as planned because of a problem with the roof. And the town got a pasting from the Ulster Architectural Society as 'ugly, untidy and shoddy' with traffic 'en-snarling' the area and development on the outskirts at the expense of the town centre

Alert over river fencing

A possible tragedy was averted in April 1985 after fencing along the River Lagan was badly vandalised. The damage left the river completely open to the public and heavy rains had caused it to swell making it more dangerous than usual. Local councillor, the Rev. William Beattie, who discovered the broken fencing at River Road, Lambeg, called for "all public spirited citizens to keep an eye on the river fencing and to immediately report any damage.

Easter on the roads

EASTER weekend 1969 saw eight people injured in accidents but none reported on the two busiest traffic days Monday and Tuesday. A police spokesman said due to heavy traffic the numbers were not a cause for concern and could easily have been higher.

Ulster Star
03/02/2012