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14
In April, 1952, the Council organised a laundry service for incontinent old people free of charge
under section 84 of the Public Health Act, 1936. The articles are laundered and ironed at a cost of 5d. per
lb. at the Neasden Hospital, by arrangement with the Central Middlesex Group Hospital Management Committee.
Transport is provided by the Borough Council. 5 tons, 16 cwt. of laundry were dealt with.
The service has continued to be greatly appreciated by old people and their relatives.

Voluntary Services for the Aged
The '49' Club organised by the Willesden Old Folks' Association celebrated its eleventh anniversary
in February. The Club still has a good membership and is open daily from 1.30 to 10.0 p.m. Several firms
gave donations to the Association's funds.
Eighty members and helpers went for a day trip to Clacton in July. The visiting service which the
Association provided for lonely housebound old people was transferred to the Old People's Welfare Committee
in July, 1963. This transfer was necessary when Miss M. E. Piatt, Non-medical Supervisor of Midwives,
Superintendent of Home Nursing Service and Superintendent Health Visitor, who recruited the visitors
and arranged their visits on behalf of the Association, retired from the Middlesex County Council's service.
Miss Piatt's enthusiasm, hard work and devotion will be sadly missed.
From the 1st April, 1960, the Middlesex County Council have been responsible for the chiropody
service for the aged under section 28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946. The Willesden Old Folks'
Association acts as an agent for the County and arranges for the old people to have treatment. The five
private chiropodists who have worked for the Association for a number of years still carry out treatments
in their own surgeries. In addition treatments are carried out at the Neasden Clinic by a full-time chiropodist
employed by the County Council. When sufficient chiropodists are recruited all treatments will be
carried out at the clinics.
The service is still in great demand, and 4,479 treatments were given by the five chiropodists.
New applications receive initial treatment and are then placed on a register for periodic visits. In addition,
243 treatments were given to the housebound, and much credit is due to the Kilburn chiropodist who carries
out this work.
The standard charge for the service is 4/- if one foot is treated, or 8/- for treatment of both feet.
The treatment is free to old people in receipt of national assistance and those whose weekly income does
not exceed £5 per week for a single person or £8 per week for a married couple. One-half of the standard
charge is made to all other old people in receipt of retirement pensions, but if they feel they cannot afford
to pay, they may apply for the charge to be reduced or waived.
The Association still pays for treatments which cost £1,958 in 1963. A grant of £1,706 was
recovered from the Middlesex County Council.
The Willesden Division of the British Red Cross Society, Women's Voluntary Service, 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 t'ie Women's Voluntary Service is one of the most important
services for old people. The Willesden Old People's Welfare Committee took over the cooking of
meals from the W.V.S. in November, 1961, when the Kensal Rise Senior Club, with its spacious and wellequipped
kitchen, was opened. 16,529 meals were prepared and delivered, compared with 11,989 meals
in 1962. 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. 88 frozen dinners were delivered at Christmas and 150 of the
o'd people had money or a parcel for Christmas.
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, two the Middlesex County Council and
seven representing Willesden organisations concerned with the welfare of old people. A full-time Welfare
Organiser, a Deputv and an assistant work together with statutory bodies and voluntary associations and
organise services for the aged.
The two full-time centres operated by the Committee are now in their third year and are firmly
established.
The Willesden Green Senior Club was opened to old people in August, 1961. It was formerly
a health clinic and the extensive adaptations, planned and carried out by the Council, cost some £8,000. A
garden layout at the rear of the Club was completed and opened in 1963. At this ceremony, a tree was
planted by Mrs. Leff in memory of her husband, the late Medical Officer of Health of Willesden, who was
greatly interested in the welfare of the elderly. The Kensal Rise Senior Club was opened in September,
1961. The building was designed by the Council and built by private contractors. It cost the Council
£18,000. The Clubs are open every day except Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The 500 members of each
club pay 1/- a year and the amenities include rooms for billiards, television, hobbies, reading and spacious
main club rooms for meals, whist drives and concerts. Light refreshments are available at certain hours during
the day. The legal ownership of the buildings remains with the Council, the management being in the hands
of the Old People's Welfare Committee.