LUCKILY enough, Frankie Fitzsimons’ 70th birthday celebrations took place a week before Downpatrick’s Keeping It Country raceday so that all guests were able to attend last Sunday’s meeting where the sun shone until after the last.

Organised by daughter Francine and son ‘Junior’, the party was held in the Golf Links House Newcastle, but Frankie had to work for his birthday cake as he on guitar and Clare on keyboards, joined good friends Geoff Drake, Dick Killen and Thomas Cunningham to provide the music on the night.