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On the recommendation of the Welfare Officer, free coal was supplied to old people who could not
afford it. 10 cases were recommended to the Wireless for the Bed-ridden Society for the supply of free wireless
sets.
The Branch Club opened at St. Martin's Church Hall, Kensal Rise, in January, 1955, meets every
Wednesday afternoon from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Club is self-supporting but the Association pays the rent of
the hall. 41 members went for a day trip to Margate in May and to Worthing in September. A Christmas
party was held in December. Members who are ill are visited by the Secretary and letters are also sent.
The Willesden Division of the British Red Cross Society, the Women's Voluntary Services, religious
and other organisations in the area, run clubs for the old folk, and their members visit them in their homes.
The meals service organised by the Women's Voluntary Services is probably the most important
service for old people. The Old Folks Morning and Luncheon Club which opened at the Presbyterian Hall,
Granville Road, Kilburn, in January, 1952, provides old people with hot meals. The cost of a lunch had to
be increased from 1/- to 1/3 because of the rising cost of gas, electricity and food, but tea was kept at 2d.
per cup and coffee at 3d. per cup. 9,492 dinners were prepared during the year; 3,717 were served in the
Club and 4,775 were delivered by the Meals on Wheels Service, organised from the same premises. Only 2
meals a week are supplied to each person; the aim is to give a hot meal to old people five days a week in all
parts of the borough.
The Morning and Luncheon Club, the Meals on Wheels Service and the National Assistance Board
inform the W.V.S. of some old people's needs, such as clothing or little extras of comfort, and a large number
of old people received help from them during the year.
BURIAL OF THE DEAD
In accordance with the provisions of section 50 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, arrangements
were made for the burial of 11 persons during the year. This cost £123.8.6 of which £12.9.6 was recovered
from relatives.
PUBLIC MORTUARY
A post-mortem was performed on 489 bodies, followed by an inquest in 128.
72 inquests were held on Willesden residents but only 10 of these were held in the Coroner's Court
attached to the mortuary. The remainder were held at Ealing.

LICENSING OF HAWKERS
Hawkers of food and premises used by them for storage accommodation must be registered by the
Council (section 11 of the Middlesex County Council Act, 1950). 23 licences have been issued to hawkers
(19 selling fruit and vegetables, 3 selling fish and 1 selling miscellaneous foods). There were no new licences
issued in 1956.
COMMON LODGING HOUSES
There are now no common lodging houses in the district registered under section 237 of the Public
Health Act, 1936.
SLAUGHTERHOUSE LICENCES
There are now no slaughterhouses in the district licensed under section 62 of the Food and Drugs
Act, 1955. Slaughtering was last carried out in the borough in 1939; one licence was, however, renewed until
1955.
RAG FLOCK AND OTHER FILLING MATERIALS ACT, 1951
The Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act and Regulations, 1951, came into operation on the
1st November, 1951. The Regulations specify the standards of cleanliness for the filling materials, the
analysis for the tests, the fees which may be charged by the analyst, and the form of records to be kept by
the occupiers of the premises registered and licensed under the Act.
The premises of manufacturers of rag flock and those used for storing rag flock require to be licensed
by the local authority; the fee and the renewal fee is £1.0.0. for a period not exceeding twelve months.
The premises of persons carrying on business of upholstering, stuffing, or lining of bedding, toys and baby
carriages, and others using filling materials specified in the Act, have to be registered; only one fee of £1.0.0
is chargeable.