195-s skiffle band in Ballycarry hall

Share your pictures from the past with other Times readers. Email us a copy, or drop in at the office with as much information as possible about the people pictured. See our contact details above.

1981: named as storage site for nuclear missiles:

Larne was named by a former Nobel Peace Prize winner and UN diplomat as a possible storage site for nuclear missles.

According to a report in the East Antrim Times in March 1981, Sean MacBride told an anti-nuclear war meeting meeting in Belfast that the port may have been chosen by military strategists at Wesminster.

It was suggested that smaller towns such as Larne and Carrick which “are not easily located” would be more suitable locations than a city such as Belfast.

Mr MacBride, chairman of Amnesty International and former Minister of External Foreign Affiars, Dublin, claimed that the Ministry of Defence had stated that a number of missile bases were to be situated in the United Kingdom.

He advised that action must be taken to stop the “growing threat”.

”If missiles are based in Northern Ireland, the country would be the target for a retaliatory strike.” he stated.

He indicated that the Royal Irish Academy had challenged the Ministry of Defence to deny that such bases were being set up. However, the ministry refused to comment.

Meanwhile, a DeLorean car burst into flames whilst on a test drive near Glenarm.

The driver and passenger managed to escape uninjured from the uniquely styled vehicle during the early hours of the morning at Munie Road.

According to a report in the East Antrim Times, they were alerted to a difficulty by a warning dashboard light.

The alarm was raised by an off-duty police officer who ran to their aid.

It was claimed that they had been test driving the car on a “tough County Antrim mountain road”.

The American DeLorean company, based in Dunmurry, played down the incident despite “extensive damage” to the car which was to become the star of the Back To The Future movie franchise.

Nine thousand were manufactured at the Belfast plant.