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be restricted to those necessitous Old People who are unable to
attend a Lunch Club. Although each application is carefully
considered to ensure that there is a genuine need, and existing cases
are reviewed from time to time to ascertain that the service is still
essential, there has been a continued growth in the demand for
mobile meals and vehicles are now operating a total of 19 rounds.
Meals are delivered in metal foil containers, a method introduced
in 1969 as an economy measure and, during the year, these totalled
174,157, an increase of almost 10% over the figure for 1969. Persons
receiving Mobile Meals at the end of 1970 numbered 812. The
charge for each meal was the same as that made at Lunch Clubs,
i.e. 1s. 1d.
A restricted service, for cases of special need, was provided
during Bank Holidays and over the Christmas and Boxing Day
period when meals were delivered to elderly people without charge.
Emergency food packs were again distributed to old people on
the Mobile Meals Register to cover the possibility of the nondelivery
of a meal during severe weather.

Lunch Clubs
Lunch Club services continue to expand and another club, viz.,
"Elmgrove" Old People's Home at Walmer Terrace, S.E.18, was
opened during the year. With the exception of two very small areas
no elderly resident in the Borough is more than ¾ mile from a
Lunch Club, a situation which not only ensures that as many as
possible enjoy at least one hot meal a day but also provides them
with the opportunity of companionship and social contacts which
are thereby made available.
During 1970 the number of meals served increased by 12½%
to a total of 262,062. Again, the cost of the meal was subvented
by the Council and the charge to members remained at 1s. 1d.
A number of elderly homebound persons are conveyed to Lunch
Clubs on days when an established Old People's Club meets on the
premises during the afternoon. Thus they can enjoy a hot lunch
and then stay to enjoy the social activities in the afternoon.