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The branch club opened at St. Martin's Church Hall, Kensal Rise, in January, 1955, meets every
Wednesday afternoon from 2—4 p.m. An average of 50 old people attend each week. The club is selfsupporting,
but the Association pays the rent of the hall. Members went for a day trip in the summer to
Felixtowe. The club has a very good selection of books given by the Borough Librarian. Many high teas
and birthday parties were held.
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, arrange outings and their members visit them
in their own homes.
The meals-on-wheels service organised by the Women's Voluntary Services, is probably the most
important service for old people. The additional equipment provided by the Borough Council and the additional
transport provided by the Willesden Old People's Welfare Committee enabled the service to be extended
in 1959. 10,000 meals were prepared and delivered compared with 8,100 in 1958. Only two 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.
25 housebound were taken to Potters Bar in the summer and entertained by local school children.
Afterwards they had tea and were given flowers, cakes and eggs to take home with them.
120 old people who were being helped by the meals-on-wheels service received a free Christmas
dinner, and another 140 received Christmas parcels.
Willesden Old People's Welfare Committee
The Willesden Old People's Welfare Committee was formed in April, 1958. The Committee has a
membership of 19, ten representing the Willesden Borough Council, 2 the Middlesex County Council and 7
representing Willesden organisations concerned with the welfare of old people.
A full-time Welfare Officer was appointed who co-operates and acts in liaison between the statutory
bodies and voluntary associations, and who organise from time to time such services as may be considered
necessary to assist the aged. One of these is the Assisted Holiday Scheme whereby old people can benefit
by a fortnight by the sea during the summer months at a cost of £2 per week (including fare). Accommodation
and travel to Holiday Homes or Private Guest Houses is arranged with a choice of the most popular
coastal resorts and from June to September 149 old people took advantage of the scheme. A limited number
of places were available at the Holiday Homes at Christmas and several lonely ones spent a very enjoyable
ten days, whilst others who were alone received invitations from families willing to have them during the
festive season.
Plans are in progress to start Luncheon Clubs at various points in the borough within reach of most
old people where cheap mid-day meals will be served and the first of these was opened in May, 1960.
For those who can get out there are many Clubs where companionship may be found, and with a
view to assisting these Clubs and attracting more members the Old People's Welfare Committee are arranging
entertainment and competitions during the winter months. Plans for the building of two Centres for the
aged have been approved and it is hoped that the coming year will see the completion of these. Once these
are opened an extension of the meals and other services will be possible.
The problems which are brought to the office are varied and numerous, and a large number of cases
are referred by hospitals, when an old person is about to be sent home. Much visiting and case work is
carried out and some idea of the growth of the work will be noted by the following figures:
Old people interviewed at office 715
Old people visited at home 826
All the above services are financed from the grant of £3,000 which the Council set aside for the
Committee's use in 1959/60.
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 eight persons during the year, at a cost of £94.18.0, £77.3.7 being recovered
from the relatives.
PUBLIC MORTUARY
Post-mortems were performed on 580 bodies, followed by an inquest in 110.
62 inquests were held on Willesden residents but only 24 of these were held in the Coroner's Court
attached to the mortuary. The remainder were held at Ealing.